Department for Transport

Shipping: Training

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funds were available to employers from the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) budget for rating to officer conversion training in each year since 2010-11; what proportion of that budget was spent in each such year; and what proportion of the total SMarT budget this represented in each such year.

Mr John Hayes: Although SMarT has a fixed budget, funding is allocated on the basis of demand. The figures below therefore reflect the level of demand for rating to officer conversion training – which has been met in full. Rating to Officer Conversion TrainingYearExpenditure £% of SMarT Budget2010/11139,325*0.902011/1224,2510.202012/1323,3970.192013/1415,8790.13* For the year 2010/11, due to the limitations of the data collected a breakdown cannot be provided for expenditure solely for rating to officer conversion training. £100,000 was earmarked to train ratings and for rating to officer conversion training for each year between April 2011 and March 2014. Demand for this training has been very low and the allocation has not been used.

Shipping: Training

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding was available to employers from the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) budget for trainee seafarer ratings in each year since 2010-11; what proportion of that budget was spent in each such year; and what proportion of the total SMarT budget that represented in each such year.

Mr John Hayes: Although SMarT has a fixed budget, funding is allocated on the basis of demand. The figures below therefore reflect the level of demand for ratings training – which has been met in full. Ratings TrainingYearExpenditure £% of SMarT Budget2010/11116,357*0.762011/1221,9520.182012/137,9910.062013/146,5940.055* For the year 2010/11, due to the limitations of the data collected a breakdown cannot be provided for expenditure solely for ratings training. £100,000 was earmarked to train ratings and for rating to officer conversion training for each year between April 2011 and March 2014. Demand for this training has been very low and the allocation has not been used.

Motorcycles

Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of passenger journeys in the UK were made by powered two wheelers in each of the last five years; and what share of his Department's spending related to motorcycling in each period.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department holds data collected in the National Travel Survey (NTS) on the percentage of all trips made by motorcycle.The table below shows the percentage of all trips made by motorcycle between 2009 and 2013: Average number of motorcycle trips per person per year by main mode:England, 2009 to 20132009  2010  2011  2012  2013Motorcycle  3  3  4  4  3All modes  974  961  950  950  923Percentage of all trips  0.3%  0.3%  0.4%  0.4%  0.3%  Source: National Travel Survey During the five financial years 2009/10 to 2013/14, departmental spending on motorcycling is detailed in the table below: £ thousands   2009/10  2010/11  2011/12  2012/13  2013/14  Total 09/10-13/14  Spend on motorcycling  2,390  536  2,298  706  929  6,859  Percentage of Department's spend  0.016%  0.004%  0.019%  0.006%  0.008%  0.011%   The £6.859 million motorcycling spend represents 0.011% of the total departmental spend for those years.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to implement carbon and air pollutant emission standards to promote the use of cleaner vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government takes a leading role in EU negotiations on new car and van CO2 regulations which are the major driver of greenhouse gas emissions reductions in cars and vans. The UK fleet is currently ahead of these targets in terms CO2 reduction and emits 22% less CO2 than in 2007. Pollutant emissions (for example particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen (NOx)) are regulated by European (‘Euro’) Emission Standards standards.　 These have become increasingly stringent and delivered large reductions for most pollutants.　 Government’s focus is now achieving real world reductions of NOx for diesel vehicles as new standards are introduced (Euro 6 for cars and vans, Euro VI for buses and lorries). The Government is committed to making the UK a global leader in the design, manufacture and uptake of ultra low emission vehicles which address both carbon and air quality issues. Uptake of these vehicles has increased fourfold year on year and they are approach 1% of new car sales.

London Airports

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of public sector investment in transport infrastructure needed for each of the three options being considered by the Davies Commission on runway capacity in the South East.

Mr Robert Goodwill: To ensure our long term connectivity needs can be met, this Government established the independent Airports Commission to identify and recommend to Government options for maintaining this country’s status as an international hub for aviation. In its consultation the Airports Commission is seeking views on its initial assessment of, among other things, the level of public sector investment in transport infrastructure associated with the shortlisted options. The Airports Commission’s consultation can be found at:www.gov.uk/government/consultations/increasing-the-uks-long-term-aviation-capacity  The Airports Commission will report to government in the summer of 2015.   It will be for the Government of the day to consider any future requirement for public sector investment.

Highway Code

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has any plans to amend the Highway Code.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Highway Code was last revised in September 2007. When we carry out the next revision to the Code we will as usual undertake a consultation on proposed changes.

Railways: North of England

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it will be a requirement on bidders for the Northern and TransPennine rail franchises to provide additional staff at stations and on trains.

Claire Perry: The specifications for the Northern and TransPennine Express rail franchises are still being developed. The Department expects that for both franchises bidders will be invited to propose staffing levels and deployments that provide a greater level of effective staff presence in areas that passengers value most.

Driving: Eyesight

Rebecca Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward proposals to introduce compulsory testing to ensure that drivers' eyesight meets minimum legal standards.

Claire Perry: There are no plans to introduce compulsory eyesight tests for drivers. All drivers are required by law to ensure that they are able to read a number plate from 20 metres and have a visual acuity of at least 6/12 (decimal 0.5), as measured on the Snellen chart. Corrective lenses can be worn if needed. The Department makes the eyesight standards for driving clear in its leaflets, forms and on GOV.UK. The Department also supports the NHS’ recommendation that adults should have their eyes tested every two years. The advice was also promoted through a communication campaign in 2013, supported by the British Medical Association, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and Brake.

Stansted Airport

Mr Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with representatives of Stansted Airport on the surface access improvements to Stansted Airport recommended in the Airports Commission's Interim Report, published in December 2013.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Airports Commission Interim Report recommended "work on developing proposals to improve the rail link between London and Stansted". To that end, we have challenged Network Rail to develop such proposals within the context of its Anglia Route Study, a draft of which is currently subject to public consultation. Minsters and officials in the Department regularly discuss this and other issues with Manchester Airport Group, the owners and operators of Stansted Airport.

Transport: Capital Investment

Mr Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria are currently used in the allocation of his Department's capital spending to improve rail and surface connectivity to ports and airports.

Mr Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what priority his Department gives to increasing economic activity in the aviation and maritime sectors in the allocation of his Department's capital funding to improve rail and road connectivity.

Claire Perry: In August 2013, the Department published Transport – An Engine for Growth, which established the six principles for making the most of the clear commitment to rising long-term investment made at the 2013 Spending Round. Those principles included maximising the economic benefits to the UK and in particular supporting exports by improving international links. It also included a commitment to work with the private sector, acknowledging that most of our important ports and airports are in the private sector.   These priorities feed into the five case transport business case model, showing that options to invest in capital schemes for access to ports and airports are supported by a robust case for change that fits with wider public policy objectives – the ‘strategic case’ demonstrate value for money – the ‘economic case’, are commercially viable – the ‘commercial case’ are financially affordable – the ‘financial case’; and are achievable – the ‘management case’.   Further information and guidance on the Transport Business Case is available on the GOV.UK website at:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transport-business-case

Stansted Airport

Mr Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Network Rail on the possibility of using CP6 funding to deliver the surface access improvements to Stansted Airport recommended in the Airports Commission Interim Report, published in December 2013.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Airports Commission’s Interim Report recommended "work on developing proposals to improve the rail link between London and Stansted". To that end, we have challenged Network Rail to develop such proposals within the context of its Anglia Route Study, a draft of which is currently subject to public consultation. This integrated approach recognises that Stansted services share finite rail infrastructure with local, regional and long distance services. The ultimate findings of the Anglia Route Study will influence the Government’s priorities for funding in Control Period 6.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Shepherd's Bush Market

Mr Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will publish any correspondence between his Department and the Planning Inspector Ava Wood on the Shepherd's Bush Market development scheme and the compulsory purchase order granted by Hammersmith and Fulham local authority.

Brandon Lewis: There is no correspondence to publish between the Department (National Planning Casework Unit) and the Planning Inspector Ava Wood on the Shepherds Bush Market compulsory purchase order, as we do not have direct contact with individual inspectors.

Housing: Construction

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of houses under local development plans are (a) private and (b) social housing.

Brandon Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally.

Procurement

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many contracts signed by his Department with suppliers of services or consultants include a clause providing that if the contract is abrogated by the Government, the provider or consultant will be compensated for lost income since 2010.

Kris Hopkins: There have been no contracts signed by my Department since 2010 which have been cancelled with such a clause attached to the contract.

Local Government Services

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the uptake of the community right to challenge; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Williams: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not formally monitor the uptake of the Community Right to Challenge or require local authorities to report the number of challenges. Informally we collate responses from follow-up surveys of users of our support programme and other sources. From this, we are aware of 49 expressions of interest being submitted to date. A survey of users of the Community Right to Challenge support programme, carried out in the summer of 2014, found that 43 of the 105 respondents intended to submit an Expression of Interest in the next 12 months.The Department for Communities and Local Government has funded a support programme to help voluntary and community groups, Parish Councils and local authority employees to use the Community Right to Challenge or to bid for local government contracts. The programme has awarded grants worth £3.7 million to a total of 216 groups since 2012 and has responded to over 4,000 queries.

Derelict Land: Greater London

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of potential brownfield development sites in London; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: According to the National Land Use Database, there were an estimated 3,660 hectares of brownfield land in London that might have been available for redevelopment in 2010 (the latest, complete database). However redevelopment is not expected to be viable on all sites.

Housing: Hertfordshire

Sir Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has set any target for the number of homes in the North Hertfordshire Local Plan.

Brandon Lewis: No. We have abolished Labour’s top-down targets and Regional Strategies which built nothing but resentment. Our new locally-led approach is working; in the last 12 months, a total of 230,000 homes received planning permission across England. The Coalition Government is determined to protect our countryside and the Green Belt, as stated in the Coalition Agreement. I refer my hon and learned Friend to the new planning guidance issued by my Department on 6 October, reaffirming how councils should use their Local Plan to safeguard their local area against urban sprawl, drawing on protections in the National Planning Policy Framework. We have been very clear that there is no central diktat demanding that councils rip up the Green Belt to meet housing need.

Fire Services

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many (a) whole-time and (b) part-time firefighters there were in (i) Northamptonshire and (ii) England in each of the last 10 years.

Penny Mordaunt: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Fire Services: Northamptonshire

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what new (a) fire pumps and (b) other equipment is being provided for Northamptonshire Fire Service; what recent assessment he has made of the overall performance of that service; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt: Decisions on the provision of new fire pumps and other equipment are matters for the local fire and rescue authority. However, Northamptonshire fire and rescue authority has successfully bid for £3.16 million from the £75 million Fire Transformation Fund to replace their current fire service incident command unit vehicle with a purpose built vehicle to be jointly crewed by police and fire staff. In addition, the funding will enable Northamptonshire to purchase joint rural response units. This funding will be made available in 2015-16.Fire and rescue authorities are best placed to assess and manage their performance through the integrated risk management plan.

Fire Services: Conditions of Employment

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of how many and what proportion of firefighters between the age of 55 and 60 will fail the fitness test in each of the next five years.

Penny Mordaunt: There are currently over 1,000 firefighters in the Service aged 55 or over, all of whom provide a valuable contribution to the fire service. The pension reforms protect those who are closest to their scheme’s Normal Pension Age and therefore no firefighter will need to work beyond their current scheme’s Normal Pension Age over the next five years. The Government commissioned report Normal Pension Age for Firefighters found that there was no reason why every firefighter who stayed physically active could not remain operational until age 60. The report can be found at http://www.clg.heywood.co.uk/node/658. There is no single fitness standard in fire and rescue authorities and Dr Williams' assessment was based on current practices amongst fire and rescue authorities.On 28 October I published a consultation to put the key fitness principles onto a statutory footing through the Fire National Framework. These proposals underpin the fitness and capability processes that exist within individual fire and rescue authorities and complement the work being undertaken by the joint fitness group facilitated by the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser, Peter Holland. These important initiatives will help reassure firefighters that they will be appropriately supported throughout their career.

Fire Services: Industrial Disputes

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress has been made in resolving the dispute with firefighters; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt: After extensive consultation, and numerous changes, the Government laid the final regulations for the Firefighters Pension Scheme 2015 before Parliament on 28 October. This provides one of the best schemes in the public sector, with a firefighter who earns £29,000 and retires after a full career receiving a £19,000 a year pension at age 60, whilst ensuring that a greater proportion of firefighters are protected from the changes than any other large public service workforce. On the same day we published a consultation to put the key fitness principles onto a statutory footing through the Fire National Framework. These proposals underpin the fitness and capability processes that exist within individual fire and rescue authorities and complement the work being undertaken by the joint fitness group facilitated by the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser, Peter Holland. These reforms are fair to both to firefighters and taxpayers.

Emergency Services

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on the fire service, police service and ambulance service sharing the same buildings; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt: The Government supports and encourages fire and rescue authorities to share estates with the the police and ambulance services in cases where the opportunity to do so is locally identified. The recently announced £75 million fire transformation fund includes, for example, £4.5 million for new fire stations in Merseyside which will be shared with the police and ambulance service. Sharing estates can of course help drive efficiency savings and further collaboration between the emergency services.

Council Tax: Lancashire

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much additional revenue was raised by rises in council tax, including precepts by Lancashire County Council in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 to date.

Kris Hopkins: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Council Tax: Lancashire

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much additional revenue was raised by rises in council tax, including precepts by Lancaster District Council in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 to date.

Kris Hopkins: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Housing: North East

Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of the New Homes Bonus on housing planning approvals in the North East since 2011.

Brandon Lewis: The New Homes Bonus was announced as a Coalition Government policy in 2010, and commenced in April 2011, but it has rewarded planning permission granted from October 2009 onwards. Thanks to the Government’s planning reforms and incentives like the New Homes Bonus, in the last 12 months to June 2014, an estimated 230,000 new homes were granted planning permission across England. This is up from 145,775 permissions at the end of 2009. We do not produce regional statistics, not least since we have abolished regional planning and regional government. We now have a locally-led planning system. My Department has been carrying out a formal evaluation of the New Homes Bonus, which we will publish in due course.

Fire Services

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he and other Ministers in his Department have had with firefighters and their representatives.

Penny Mordaunt: Ministers regularly meet with firefighters and their representatives on a range of fire related issues, undertake visits to fire stations across England and firefighters are regularly updated on key issues through open letters.

Welfare Assistance Schemes

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of how local authorities will be able to support the most vulnerable residents when its dedicated funding for local welfare assistance schemes ends in April 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Kris Hopkins: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bolton South East (Yasmin Qureshi) on 17 November, PQ 214073.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Nuclear Weapons

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government will be represented at the conference on the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons taking place in Vienna in December 2014.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: As I stated to the House during Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 28 October 2014, Official Report, column 153, the Government has received this invitation and is considering whether to attend the Conference, and will update the House once we have reached a decision.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Mr Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what dates he or his predecessors met the Ambassadors to the UK of the ASEAN countries in the last five years.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) and his predecessor, the former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) have met ASEAN Ambassadors to the UK a number of times in the last five years. The full information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.In the last year, the Foreign Secretary met the Singapore High Commissioner on the 21 October during the State Visit by the President of Singapore. The former Foreign Secretary met the Indonesian Ambassador to the UK during his visit to Indonesia on 28-29 January 2014 and the Philippine Ambassador to the UK during his visit to the Philippines on 29-30 January 2014.As the Minister responsible for our relations with Asia, I have held meetings in the past year with: the Philippine Ambassador on 10 December 2013; the Burmese Ambassador on 7 April 2014; the Bruneian High Commissioner and the Cambodian Ambassador on 14 July 2014; the Lao Ambassador on 5 August 2014; the Singapore High Commissioner on 9 October 2014; the Thai Charge D’Affaires on 13 October 2014; and the Vietnamese Ambassador on 12 November 2014. I have also met a number of the ASEAN Ambassadors at events througout the year and with visting delegations.It is worth noting that, with the opening of the Lao Embassy in London on 6 November every ASEAN country is now represented in the UK, as is the UK in every ASEAN country.

Iran

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for negotiations with Iran on its nuclear programme of recent satellite imagery indicating a possible nuclear clean-up operation at that country's Parchin facility.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The IAEA have been clear that clean-up activities have seriously undermined their ability to verify whether weaponisation related activities took place at Parchin. IAEA access to the site remains an important step in addressing the Agency’s concerns. We fully support the IAEA’s work on this crucial issue. A comprehensive agreement between the E3+3 and Iran remains the best way to ensure Iran’s nuclear programme is peaceful going forward.

Sudan

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations HM Ambassador to Sudan has made to the government of that country regarding (a) the alleged rape of 200 girls and women in Tabit in Darfur on 31 October and 1 November 2014 and (b) the operation of the Sudanese armed forces in Darfur.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Our Ambassador has raised our concerns about both of these issues with the Government of Sudan, most recently in a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 13 November. The Ambassador also raised our specific concerns about the alleged incident in Tabit with the Head of the Government’s Violence Against Women Unit on 11 November. We call on the Government of Sudan to allow the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) unhindered access so that the UN can conduct a full investigation into these alleged appalling crimes. More broadly, as part of our ongoing dialogue on Darfur, we raise our concerns around the role and operation of the Sudanese armed forces in Darfur. The Ambassador raised our concerns around the tactics of the Sudanese Armed Forces in Darfur with the State Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 25 September.

Iran

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to secure the release of Ghoncheh Ghavami from prison in Iran; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are deeply concerned by the detention of Ghoncheh Ghavami as well as other dual British/Iranian nationals detained in Iran. We have repeatedly pressed the Iranian Government over her welfare and our concerns about due process in her case. Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary discussed the matter with President Rouhani and Foreign Minister Zarif respectively in September. The UK’s non resident Chargé d’Affaires has raised Ms Ghavami’s case regularly with his Iranian counterpart, including most recently on 14 November. The FCO is providing consular assistance to Ms Ghavami’s family at this difficult time.

Northern Ireland Office

Bloody Sunday Tribunal of Inquiry

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the final costs were for each of the participating legal teams and individuals involved in the Saville Inquiry; and what costs in that inquiry were incurred after 2005.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The team costs for each of the participating legal teams are detailed in the enclosed attachment.A full breakdown of the legal costs from 2005 onwards is not readily available. The table below provides a less detailed breakdown. Costs £2004/20052005/20062006/20072007/20082008/20092009/20102010/2011Inquiry Counsel fees1,579,400840,342855,342750,531685,926844,016121,435Eversheds339,59370,914---5,204-Lawyers for Interested Parties - fees5,474,4832,104,5904,795,377951,995419,714--Lawyers for IPs - accommodation34,65221,67469,770-30,000--Lawyers for IPs - travel272,31067,851281,23811,45416,678--Lawyers for IPs - subsistence22,2872,86811,7922124,979--Total7,722,7253,108,2396,013,5191,714,0011,177,297849,220121,435   



Saville Inquiry Legal Costs
(PDF Document, 254.5 KB)

Attorney General

Correspondence

Simon Kirby: To ask the Attorney General, how often the Law Officers' Departments reviews its processes regarding the logging of emails, letters and other correspondence received; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Buckland: HMCPSI’s records management policy, which covers such processes, is reviewed and published annually. The remaining Law Officers’ Departments do not have a formal schedule for regularly reviewing the logging emails or correspondence, although such processes are monitored and when required are modified to meet business needs.   All of the Law Officers’ Departments comply with the guidance issued by the Cabinet Office on handling correspondence from Members of Parliament, Peers, MEPs and Members of devolved Administrations, which is available online at the following link - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/61196/guide-handling-gov-correspondence.pdf

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Overseas Trade: Russia

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the cost to UK businesses of sanctions currently in operation on trade with Russia.

Matthew Hancock: UK businesses exposure to sanctions has been relatively limited so far, although it is too early to be able to estimate the full impact of sanctions on UK businesses. UK businesses involved in the finance, energy and defence sectors in particular are facing various export restrictions, whilst some agricultural and food producers have been affected by Russia’s retaliatory measures. The Government is maintaining a close dialogue with affected companies and industry bodies.

Procurement

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many contracts signed by his Department with suppliers of services or consultants include a clause providing that if the contract is abrogated by the Government, the provider or consultant will be compensated for lost income since 2010.

Jo Swinson: The maintenance of central records of all contracts let by the Department commenced from August 2012. Therefore, I can provide information on contracts let in the period August 2012 to date only. No contracts put in place for the Department using UK SBS terms and conditions include provision for compensation for lost income in the event of abrogation by the customer. Indeed, UK SBS terms and conditions include clauses specifically excluding such activity. Where the Department’s needs have been met through the use of Crown Commercial Service frameworks, the terms and conditions applied will be those required by the respective framework. The Department’s contract opportunities with a value greater than £10,000 and all contracts subsequently awarded are published on Contracts Finder.

Government Departments: Procurement

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how the Government gathers data on whether its suppliers are small and medium-sized enterprises.

Jo Swinson: The Department is committed to the Government’s small and medium sized enterprise (SME) agenda and works with Cabinet Office guidance and requirements on reporting. This includes the use of Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) numbers to identify spend through SMEs and monitoring information provided by Cabinet Office to all Departments on a quarterly basis setting out the spend of SME subcontractors provided by the top 400 main suppliers.

Holiday Leave: Pay

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what guidance he plans to give to employers following the recent ruling by the Employment Appeal Tribunal on holiday pay.

Jo Swinson: The Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling on holiday pay is a significant judgment for employers and workers. Government is urgently working through the detail, including with the Taskforce of business representatives and Government departments convened by my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.   Employers may wish to check their current arrangements for holiday pay and overtime/sales commission, and seek legal advice when necessary. Employers and workers can contact the ACAS helpline on 0300 123 1100 for free and confidential advice.

Business: Africa

Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what guidance his Department gives to companies about doing business in (a) Morocco and (b) Western Sahara.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2014 to Question 212650, how many permanent members of staff employed by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate were working in (a) his Department and (b) HM Revenue and Customs in each of the last three years.

Jo Swinson: In the financial year 2012-13, the number of permanent members of staff employed in the Employment Agency Standards (EAS) inspectorate was 16, all based in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).   At the beginning of the financial year 2013-14, there were 12 permanent members of staff working in EAS in BIS. In November 2013, nine permanent staff went on loan to HMRC to assist with enforcing non-payment of National Minimum Wage, including in the recruitment sector.

Investment: Colombia

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on what date the UK-Colombia bilateral investment treaty will be ratified; and on what date that treaty will come into force.

Matthew Hancock: The UK-Colombia Bilateral Investment Agreement completed its parliamentary scrutiny under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act on 14 July 2014. The Agreement entered into force on 10 October 2014 which was sixty days after the date of receipt of the last notification by which the Parties notify each other in writing that their respective internal requirements for entry into force of the Agreement have been fulfilled.

Coke: Barnsley

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if the Government will take steps to ensure a future for the Monckton coke plant in Barnsley.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coke

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans the Government has to support the coke industry in the UK.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Business: Females

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how the Government gathers data on the number of British businesses that are (a) women-owned and (b) women-led.

Jo Swinson: The primary source of data on the characteristics and performance of the small and medium sized SME population is the BIS Small Business Survey (SBS).   The businesses surveyed in the SBS are asked what proportion of the partners or directors are women and whether the business is owned by women. Women-led businesses are defined as those where women make up more than 50 per cent of the partners or directors in day-to-day control of the business, or where the sole proprietor is a woman. Women-owned business are defined as those where more than 50 per cent of the business is owned by women.   The SBS data are weighted to reflect the SME population as a whole using numbers from the Business Population Estimates. Further information on SBS 2012 is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/small-business-survey-reports and the findings from SBS 2014 are scheduled for publication in early 2015.

Exports: Government Assistance

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of government assistance for exports.

Matthew Hancock: United Kingdom Trade & Investment (UKTI) continues to increase the number of businesses it assists. Up to around 48,000 in 2013/14, a 50% increase on the previous year and the largest increase ever seen.   This support helped generate additional sales of £49 billion and created or safeguard over 220,000 jobs.

Department for International Development

Palestinians

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department has provided for British physicians and nurses working on short missions in Gaza.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID provided support for an initial medical assessment in Gaza carried out by a team of British medical staff in August, and further support to take forward their recommendation for a small team of British specialists with trauma, orthopaedic and reconstructive skills to make follow-up visits to Gaza. We are also providing support for specialists in orthopaedic trauma, neurology, burns and amputation, drawn from the UK’s International Emergency Trauma Register, to provide highly specialised training, equipment and supervision for rehabilitation in Gaza.

Palestinians

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what emergency aid her Department is providing for Gazans whose homes have been destroyed in the recent conflict.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK was one of the biggest donors to Gaza this summer, providing more than £17 million in emergency assistance to deliver lifesaving food, clean water, shelter and medical assistance to tens of thousands of people affected by the fighting. We have also pledged £20 million in early recovery assistance, which includes support for shelter and basic services, short-term employment to help with reconstruction, clearance of explosive remnants of war, and funding for the UN mechanism to import construction materials.

Palestinians

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department has provided for trained psychosocial counsellors to help children in Gaza.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID is funding a range of mental health and psychosocial support initiatives in Gaza, including psychosocial care for 3000 children and 1500 mothers, psychological training for 120 child carers, and psychotherapy for 900 severely traumatised children. The UK is also one of the largest donors to the UN Relief and Works Agency, which is providing psychosocial support and activities for children through its extensive network of schools.

Palestinians

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate she has made of the cost of the reconstruction of Gaza.

Mr Desmond Swayne: Assessments led by the Palestinian Authority, and carried out in conjunction with the United Nations and other partners, estimate the total cost of relief, recovery and reconstruction to be around $4 billion.

Procurement

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many contracts signed by her Department with suppliers of services or consultants include a clause providing that if the contract is abrogated by the Government, the provider or consultant will be compensated for lost income since 2010.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID does not provide compensation for lost income in its standard conditions of contract.

Palestinians

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the extent of damage to basic infrastructure and housing in Gaza arising from the recent conflict.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UN has estimated that 18,000 housing units were destroyed or severely damaged in the conflict and that 44,300 other housing units sustained some damage. The UN estimates that 20-30% of the water and sewage network was damaged, and reports extensive damage to the Gaza Power Plant and internal electricity grid, telecommunications and internet infrastructure, as well as factories and commercial buildings.

Correspondence

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how often her Department reviews its processes regarding the logging of emails, letters and other correspondence received; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The handling of correspondence is given the highest priority by my Department and procedures are reviewed regularly to maintain standards. We aim to respond to all correspondence within 15 working days   Guidance on handling correspondence from Members of Parliament, Peers, MEPs and Members of devolved Administrations is available online at www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/61196/guide-handling-gov-correspondence.pdf.

Central African Republic

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when (a) she and (b) other ministers in her Department plan to visit the Central African Republic.

Mr Desmond Swayne: We do not publish future ministerial visits. Past ministerial visits are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-with-external-organisations-in-the-department-for-international-development.

Travel

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what total amount her Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) the Government Car and Despatch Agency and (b) other car hire in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10.

Mr Desmond Swayne: For information on the cost of car travel for the Department of International I refer the hon. Member to the Department for Transport's written ministerial statements of 22 July 2008, Official Report, column 117WS; 16 July 2009, Official Report, column 80WS; and 28 October 2010, Official Report, column 23WS. DFID is unable to provide details of ministerial spend on private hire vehicles and taxis without incurring disproportionate cost.

Central African Republic

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the security situation in the Central African Republic.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID regularly monitors the security and humanitarian situation in CAR. High levels of violence continue across the country, and a million people have been displaced since December 2013. The security situation impacts not only communities but humanitarian workers. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported 1,120 security incidents since January 2014 of which 10% were directed at humanitarian organisations. In 2014 DFID has provided £18 million to the ICRC, UN agencies and international NGOs to support communities who have suffered from the violence.

Housing

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, for which accommodation her Department has paid for overnight stays in 2014.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID does not publish the names and addresses of the hotels it uses for reasons of duty of care.

ICT

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many (a) iphones and (b) ipads her Department has purchased in 2014 to date; and what the cost was of those purchases.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID currently has one iPhone 6+ and two iPads on order. The purchase cost of these items is £1,470.

Africa

Dr Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what projects in Africa with an agro-ecological component have been funded by her Department (a) directly and (b) indirectly in the last three years; and what criteria her Department uses for deciding which projects to fund under the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID is directly and indirectly supporting a wide range of work that has an agro-ecological component, from soil and water conservation and land use management to climate resilience and conservation agriculture. We are working in a number of African countries, supporting programmes like the Community Land Use Fund in Mozambique and programmes for soil and water conservation such as the Karamoja Resilience programme in Uganda. DFID’s global climate change and agriculture food security research programme is building the evidence base for how better to deliver agro-ecological approaches, while the Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme supports farmers to adapt agricultural systems to be climate resilient. The full range of our programmes can be found on the Development Tracker. The UK has committed £600m to the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. Of this £480m is for pre-existing programmes in the six DFID partner countries participating in the New Alliance, and £75m is a contribution to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme. These pre-existing programmes satisfied the following criteria: (i) they occur in one of the DFID partner countries participating in the New Alliance (Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ghana, Malawi and Nigeria); and (ii) they include components on food security, agriculture and nutrition. The UK’s new financial support to the New Alliance of £45m has focused on “enabling actions” that support agriculture, food security and nutrition – specifically, the development of policy instruments, technology and innovation, and risk management.

Afghanistan

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that women's rights are on the agenda for the London Conference on Afghanistan next month; and what her objectives relating to the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan are for that conference.

Justine Greening: The full engagement of women and girls in political processes is essential for the success of Afghanistan. Integrating women and girls into the event – including but not limited to speaking slots – is a priority.   A critical element of the conference will be the civil society associated event, ‘Ayenda’ on 3 December and the follow-up event on 4 December. I will attend both of these events and women and girls will be central to them.

Department for Education

Boarding Schools

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2014 to Queston 211886, how many of the co-educational state boarding schools in England are single sex up to sixth form; and how many of those schools accept only (a) boys and (b) girls until sixth form.

Mr Edward Timpson: This information is not held by the Department for Education. Gender of school details are only collected by the Department at the point of first entry (i.e. age 11 for 11-18 schools). The information requested is held by local authorities or academies in each local authority area.

GCE A-level

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the extent of disparities in grade assessments brought to light when remarking A-level papers; what steps she plans to take to reduce such disparities; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Nick Gibb: This is a matter for the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked the Chief Regulator, Glenys Stacey, to write directly to the hon. Member.A copy of her reply will be placed in the House Library.

Sixth Form Colleges

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, through what mechanism sixth form colleges will apply for capital funding from 2015-16; and if she will make a statement.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education announced the new Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) on 16 October 2014. Sixth form colleges can apply to the CIF for capital funding to improve the condition of their buildings and expand them. Details of the fund and the guidance surrounding applications are published online at: www.gov.uk/condition-improvement-fund

Academies

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria she uses when deciding to withdraw funding for a free school or university technical school which has opened since 2010.

Mr Edward Timpson: The terms and conditions under which free schools and University Technical Colleges (UTCs) are funded are set out in a funding agreement between the Secretary of State and the school’s trust. A school’s funding agreement gives the Secretary of State a range of powers to intervene, including moving to close a school, if failure is identified. All free school and UTC funding agreements are available on the Department for Education's performance table website at http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/

Schools: Yorkshire and Humberside

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which organisations in Yorkshire and Humberside are currently not subject to any temporary or permanent withdrawal of approval for the sponsorship of new or additional schools by the (a) Secretary of State and (b) Regional Schools Commissioner to be academy sponsors for existing (i) primary schools, (ii) secondary schools, (iii) post-16 schools and colleges and (iv) three to 18 schools.

Mr Edward Timpson: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Ministry of Justice

Confiscation Orders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cars have been confiscated by order of a court under section 143 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 in each of the last five years.

Mike Penning: Section 143 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 allows the courts to make an order depriving an offender of his rights to articles used, or intended to be used, for the purpose of committing an offence. In specified circumstances a court may order an offender to be deprived of a vehicle under this power. Decisions whether to impose forfeiture orders in individual cases are a matter solely for our independent courts. The number of cars ordered to be forfeit is not centrally recorded. In 2013 the courts ordered the forfeiture of a vehicle, ship or aircraft in respect of 164 offenders, excluding summary motoring offences. Reliable information for previous years is not available.

Prisoners' Release: West Yorkshire

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was spent by HM Prison (a) Leeds and (b) Wakefield on calculating the release date of prisoners in each of the last three years.

Andrew Selous: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) does not routinely record this data and it cannot be provided retrospectively at proportionate cost.

Procurement

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many contracts signed by his Department with suppliers of services or consultants include a clause providing that if the contract is abrogated by the Government, the provider or consultant will be compensated for lost income since 2010.

Mr Shailesh Vara: This information is not collated centrally. However, since January 2011, as part of the Government’s transparency programme, details of procurement opportunities, tender documents and contracts worth over £10,000 are published online on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder). The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) also publishes details of its contracts on its website (http://ccs.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/).

Courts

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he has taken to ensure that victims are made aware in a timely manner of court hearings relating to their case.

Mike Penning: The Government’s new Victims’ Code sets out the support and information victims of crime can expect to receive from agencies at every stage of the criminal justice process. Priority victims – victims of the most serious crime, vulnerable or intimidated and persistently targeted victims – are entitled to receive enhanced support and services. The Victims’ Code outlines that victims are entitled to be informed of the date, time and location of the first court hearing by the police within 5 working days from when they receive this information and 1 working day for priority victims. If the case progresses to trial, the Witness Care Unit should notify victims of court hearings within 1 working day of receiving the information from the court. Criminal justice agencies have updated their guidance for operational staff, which outlines their duties under the new Victims’ Code. The Government has made a commitment to monitor criminal justice agencies’ compliance with the Victims’ Code and in “Our Commitment to Victims,” launched on 15 September 2014, we announced that criminal justice agencies will publish information on how they have improved services for victims from April 2015.

Community Orders: West Yorkshire

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what categories of unpaid work were completed by offenders in West Yorkshire on community orders or suspended sentences in the latest period for which information is available.

Andrew Selous: Community Payback, or unpaid work, is one of the requirements that can be included in a Community Order or a Suspended Sentence Order. There are two main categories of Community Payback: group projects supervised directly by the Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC); and group or individual projects supervised by an agency or beneficiary organisation on behalf of the CRC. Community Payback placements are allocated on the basis of suitability and there is a wide range of projects in West Yorkshire, many suggested by local communities. These can include demanding and constructive projects, such as cleaning up graffiti, making public areas safer, conservation work and painting and decorating services.

Prison Sentences

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average prison sentence was for people convicted of an offence under the Prisoners (Return to Custody) Act 1995 in each of the last three years.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of those charged with a criminal offence under the Prisoners (Return to Custody) Act 1995 were given an additional prison sentence for the offence in each of the last three years.

Andrew Selous: My officials are currently working to provide the information requested in these two questions but it has not proved possible to produce it in the time allowed. I will write to you in due course.

Scott Kelly

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when Scott Kelly will be eligible for re-release from prison after being returned to custody as a result of breaching his licence conditions arising from a sentence of imprisonment for the attempted murder of Stephen Rank in Exeter in 2005.

Andrew Selous: It would not be appropriate to place in the public domain information specific to the sentence of an individual prisoner. The decision whether to recall an offender who is serving a determinate sentence and is subject to licence supervision is taken by the Secretary of State. Once returned to custody, the prisoner’s continued detention is reviewed by the independent Parole Board after 28 days and annually thereafter. Both the Parole Board and the Secretary of State have the statutory power to re-release a determinate sentence recalled prisoner, but only if they are satisfied that it is safe to do so. If they are not so satisfied, the prisoner must remain in custody until the expiry of their sentence.

Prisoners: Gender Recognition

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners declaring themselves to be transgendered.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many transgender prisoners there were in (a) 2010 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the current number of (a) male prisoners living as women and (b) female prisoners living as men.

Andrew Selous: There are no central records of the number of prisoners who have self-declared a transgender status. Individuals with a gender recognition certificate are recorded on administrative systems in their legal gender, and are not identifiable as having changed gender.

Prisoners' Release

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many previous convictions offenders had served who were released on licence and later returned to prison on a fixed term recall basis on more than one occasion since 3 December 2012.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders have been released on licence and later returned to prison on a fixed term recall basis on more than one occasion since September 2013; and what the offence was in each case.

Andrew Selous: It has not proved possible in the time allowed to produce the information requested in these two questions. My officials are working on this and I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

Community Rehabilitation Companies

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what penalties will be imposed on community rehabilitation companies when breaches by offenders in their cohort are (a) reported and actioned and (b) not reported.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what penalties will be imposed on community rehabilitation companies for (a) each breach by an offender of their (i) licence conditions and (ii) sentence requirements, (b) the risk escalation of an offender to that of a high risk of serious harm and (c) the terminating of an offender’s participation due to repeat breaches of further offending.

Andrew Selous: Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) are required to monitor and support offenders’ compliance with their sentence or licence conditions and to manage public protection risks. The National Offender Management Service is responsible for taking appropriate action in relation to any breaches by offenders notified by the CRCs, referring them for court action or recall to custody when necessary, and for taking over cases where an offender's risk of serious harm has escalated to high.After service transition, a new set of performance measures will be in place to reward the CRCs for managing offenders effectively, and to impose financial deductions or other contractual remedies on them when they do not. The service levels, measures and consequences of failing to meet them will be set out in the contracts with CRCs. However, it is important that such mechanisms do not disincentivise them from doing what they are required to do to make the system work effectively.Providers will be incentivised to continue working with the hardest to reach and those who have already reoffended.

Child Abuse in North Wales Judicial Inquiry Review

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he expects that the Macur Review will report.

Simon Hughes: Lady Justice Macur’s Review is entirely independent of Government and its timetable is a matter for her . She is on record as saying that her Review would be thorough and that she would not draw any conclusions until she had considered all the evidence. I am, however, confident that good progress has been made and the Review is nearing its completion. The Government looks forward to receiving Lady Justice Macur’s Report next year.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mr Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much has been paid in reimbursable expenses to special advisers in his Department in each year since 2010.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The attached table sets out the total expenses paid to the Special Advisers in the Department in each year from 2010. This is drawn from a search of records held, including the Ministry of Justice online system for claiming travel and subsistence expenditure. These expenses were necessarily incurred in the course of official business (including accompanying Ministers on visits and other engagements), in line with our policies. Records of expenses claimed by Special Advisers prior to April 2010 are not held.



Expenses of Special Advisers
(Excel SpreadSheet, 20 KB)

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

Mr Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners were charged with a serious crime committed while they were in prison in each year since 2010.

Andrew Selous: Police, prisons and CPS work closely together at the local level to ensure that there is an effective criminal justice response to crimes in prison. The recently announced protocol on the appropriate handling of crime in prison is designed to ensure that there is greater consistency in approach across different regions. It is not possible to identify from centrally held data, the number of prisoners proceeded against since 2010 in respect of a serious crime committed whilst in custody. This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost by asking individual prisons to liaise with police forces and examine their records for the period in question.

Family Law

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average length of time was for private family law cases to be resolved in court where at least one party is a litigant in person in (a) the UK and (b) Wales in each year from 2009 to 2014.

Simon Hughes: Parties with no legal representation are not a new phenomenon in our courts. We have taken steps to help people who either want or have to represent themselves in court. The new package of support announced on 23 October is aimed at keeping disputes away from court, while those who end up in court will be provided with better support. The Ministry of Justice has responsibility for courts in England and Wales only and the available information is provided in the table below. We do not hold this information prior to 2011 as the case management system “FamilyMan” was not used by all courts until the end of 2010. 2014 data is available up to June, and the full year figures for 2014 will not be published until late March 2015.  Average timeliness  England and WalesWales only201114.619.4201213.517.2201313.617.02014[1]15.819.1 NotesSelf-representation is determined by the field “legal representation” in FamilyMan being left blank. Therefore, this is only a proxy measure and parties without a recorded representative are not necessarily self-representing litigants in person.[1] To end of June 2014

Powers of Attorney

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he will take to raise awareness among public bodies, companies and communities of the powers that may be exercised under a lasting power of attorney.

Simon Hughes: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) plans to run a communications campaign early next year to raise awareness amongst the public of future life planning options and encourage them to think about making provision for possible loss of mental capacity. It will focus on raising awareness of using lasting power(s) of attorney (LPAs), as well as associated issues such as making a will and organ donation. MoJ is working collaboratively with the Office of the Public Guardian, which is responsible for registering LPAs, other government departments and relevant partner organisations to deliver this campaign.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he expects to answer Questions 210136, 210138 and 210139, tabled by the hon. Member for Bristol North West on 13 October 2014.

Simon Hughes: The three questions were answered on the 18th November 2014 and the answers published on http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/

Criminal Justice and Courts Bill

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish the impact assessments his Department has carried out in respect of each of the amendments to the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill tabled by the Government during that Bill's passage in the House of Lords.

Mike Penning: Individual policy Impact Assessments have been published where the amendments added to the Bill during its passage through the House of Lords would either lead to an impact of £5m per annum or more on the public sector, or are likely to attract high levels of political or media interest. These include individual Impact Assessments on provisions on the Recall Adjudicator for recalled determinate sentence prisoners, provisions which prohibit the offering of inducements or similar rewards as an encouragement to make a personal injury compensation claim and provisions relating to routes of Appeal in the Court of Protection These Impact Assessments are available here:http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2014-15/criminaljusticeandcourts/documents.html Following the Government’s recent acceptance of the Earl of Listowel’s amendment at Lords Third Reading in relation to the duties of custody officers after charges for arrested juveniles, an Impact Assessment will be published on this provision in due course. In relation to all other Government amendments made during the Bill’s passage, including disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress and youth reporting restrictions, our analysis is that the impact of these provisions does not meet threshold to require a full Impact Assessment. The Government’s overarching Impact Assessment for the Bill as a whole will be updated once the Bill achieves Royal Assent.

Young Offender Institutions

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2014 to Question 213433, what estimate he has made of the number of young people placed in segregation in young offender institutions in each year between May 2010 and October 2012.

Andrew Selous: Prior to October 2012 data on the number of young people placed in segregation in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) was not collected centrally. In order to provide this information we would need to check individual establishment records and this could only be done at disproportionate cost.

Courts

Mr Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2014 to Question 213724, how many individual courts will receive additional funding; and what proportion such courts will form of the total court estate.

Simon Hughes: The new package of support announced on 23 October is aimed at keeping disputes away from court, while those who end up in court will be provided with better support. The funding will be used to support a new strategic approach to increasing legal and practical support for litigants in person in the civil and family courts. This will provide direct support in some local courts, and other courts will be able to access national support via email or telephone. The service will begin in selected court centres with the aim of rolling it out across England and Wales.This strategy has been developed in partnership with the legal and advice sectors and we are currently working with them on implementation. We hope to be in a position soon to make a decision on which courts will receive direct support as a result of the additional funding.

Correspondence

Mr Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish all correspondence between Ministers and officials in his Department and the UK Statistics Authority since May 2010 relating to questioning or correcting of numerical information and of statements made by Ministers and officials in his Department.

Mr Shailesh Vara: All official correspondence to or from the UK Statistics Authority and a record of issues raised with the Authority are publicly available on its website and can be viewed via this link: http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/reports---correspondence/index.html Additionally, as part of its monitoring and assessment function, the Authority publishes all assessment reports and reports on breaches of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. These are available via this link: http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/assessment/about-monitoring-and-assessment/index.html

Legal Aid Scheme

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many applications were (a) made and (b) granted for exceptional case funding for legal aid in each year from 2009 to 2014 in (i) the UK and (ii) Wales.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) does not record Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) applications for the UK as a whole as it is responsible for the operation of the legal aid scheme in England and Wales. The LAA could only provide data for Wales at disproportionate cost as the location of ECF applicants has not always been recorded centrally.The current legal aid ECF scheme in England and Wales was introduced from April 2013 under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO). Prior to the introduction of LASPO there was a category of legal aid funding termed ‘exceptional funding’. Statistics relating to legal aid in England and Wales including the current ECF scheme are regularly published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/legal-aid-statistics.

Family Law

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average length of time was for private family law cases to be resolved in court in each year from 2009 to 2014 in (a) the UK and (b) Wales.

Simon Hughes: The Ministry of Justice has responsibility for courts in England and Wales only and the available information is provided in the table below. We do not hold this information prior to 2011 as the case management system “FamilyMan” was not used by all courts until the end of 2010. 2014 data is available up to June, and the full year figures for 2014 will not be published until late March 2015.   Average timeliness - Mean England and WalesWales only201117.023.0201215.320.3201316.121.12014[1]17.921.7 We publish data for the whole of England and Wales in our publication Court Statistics Quarterly, available online, at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/court-statistics-quarterly The most recent Court Statistics Quarterly publication tables can be found at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/court-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2014 The data for July to September 2014 will be published in a new Family Court Statistics publication available on 18 December 2014.[1] To end of June 2014

Mediation

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many referrals to mediation were made in private family law in (a) the UK and (b) Wales in each year from 2009 to 2014.

Simon Hughes: Mediation works and we are committed to making sure that more people make use of it rather than go through the confrontational and stressful experience of going to court. Last year we changed the law so that anyone considering a court battle over child or financial matters must consider mediation. We have also introduced more free mediation, where one party is already funded.Last year nearly two thirds of couples who attended a single mediation session for a child dispute reached a full agreement. Almost seven out of every ten couples who opted for mediation reached an agreement.Millions of pounds of legal aid remain available for family mediation and for legal advice to support family mediation. The table at Annex A shows the volume of referrals to Mediation in each financial year from 2008/09 to 2013/14, broken down by referral source.

Prisoner Escapes

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners held in open prisons have absconded or escaped on more than one occasion.

Andrew Selous: There are no central records of the number of prisoners who have self-declared a transgender status. Individuals with a gender recognition certificate are recorded on administrative systems in their legal gender, and are not identifiable as having changed gender.

Ministry of Defence

Iraq

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the length of time that UK military forces will be engaged in Iraq.

Anna Soubry: Holding answer received on 21 October 2014



The Government has been clear that dealing with this threat will take time and patience. Our intention is to provide support to the Iraqi government while we believe it to be both needed and the Iraqi government still requests it. The UK airstrikes and other military support shows the UK will play its part in standing against ISIL.

Public Appointments

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions his Department has had requests for appointments by exception to the Senior Civil Service turned down by the Civil Service Commission since 2010; and who was appointed for each such post.

Anna Soubry: I refer the hon. Member to the Answer my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office (Francis Maude) gave him on 10 November 2014, to Question UIN 213040.



Hansard Extract 10 November 2014 
(Word Document, 24.5 KB)

Libya

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (b) the Home Office on the decision to return 90 Libyan recruits from Bassingbourn; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Navy

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to promote the Royal Navy as a career to pupils studying STEM subjects in further education.

Mr Philip Dunne: Royal Navy recruiting staff attend national events promoting technical careers throughout the year. The two most prominent of these are 'Big Bang' UK Scientists and Engineers Fairs, and Skills and WorldSkills events. In addition, the Royal Navy encourages all Engineer Officers to enrol in the STEMNET Ambassadors scheme, the purpose of which is to match serving personnel with the STEM needs of local education establishments.The Royal Navy is also strongly committed to the University Technical College programme; this scheme is technically focussed, offering a blend of education and vocational qualifications related to STEM areas.

Libya

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department took to vet Libyan personnel prior to their commencing military training at Bassingbourn barracks; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Libya

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what walking-out policy was in place in respect of Libyan recruits being trained at Bassingbourn; what oversight role was played by his Department; what the role of service police was in supervising those recruits; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Libya

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (b) the Home Office on the behaviour of Libyan personnel on Bassingbourn base; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Libya

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with (a) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (b) the Home Office on decisions to return Libyan personnel home because of events at Bassingbourn base; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Army Reserve

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many soldiers were enlisted in the Reserves from (a) April to September 2013, (b) April to September 2014, (c) July to September 2013 and (d) July to September 2014.

Mr Julian Brazier: Statistics showing enlistment into the Reserves are published by Defence Statistics in the Quarterly Personnel Report. The latest such report which shows figures at 1 October was published on 13 November.https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-quarterly-personnel-report-2014For ease of reference I am attaching the relevant page from this report.



214131-UK Armed Forces Quarterly Personnel Report
(Image, 1.19 MB)

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to recruit more women and ethnic minorities to the armed forces.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry Of Defence is committed to creating a diverse workforce which better represents the society that we defend. The Armed Forces recruitment campaigns are specifically designed to appeal to a full target audience, including women and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.In addition to those recruitment campaigns, we recently established the Defence Diversity and Inclusion Programme to increase the diversity of the workforce, both military and civilian. We are currently devising the means by which our goals will be achieved. A key element of that programme relates specifically to recruitment.

Weapons

Mr Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will undertake reviews under Article 36 of Additional Protocol 1 to the 1949 Geneva Conventions before developing weapons systems capable of generating attack profiles.

Mr Mark Francois: Yes, the Ministry of Defence does undertake reviews under Article 36 of Additional Protocol 1 to the 1949 Geneva Conventions. All new weapon systems, and any significant upgrades to existing system, are subject to a robust legal review.

United Nations

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to increase the number of staff officers seconded to UN missions; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: Holding answer received on 17 November 2014



In February 2014 the Secretary of State approved an increase in the deployment of UK military Staff officers to UN missions, with costs being met through the Conflict Pool. Officials are currently working with the UN to fulfil this target.

Veterans: Social Rented Housing

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2014 to Question 211790, how many personnel have been placed on his Department's referral scheme co-ordinated by the Joint Service Housing Advice Office in each year since it was established and prior to 2010; and how many personnel so referred successfully found accommodation through the scheme in each such year.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is not held. As I explained in my previous answer, data prior to 2010 was not transferred unless applicants were still eligible for referral.

Correspondence

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how often his Department reviews its processes regarding the logging of emails, letters and other correspondence received; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) introduced a new IT system for logging and tracking key categories of correspondence in March 2014 when processes for correspondence were thoroughly reviewed. The MOD keeps its processes for logging correspondence under constant review.

Guided Weapons

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2014 to Question 211698, which aircraft delivery platform will be used to house the Brimstone Missile launch system once the Tornado aircraft platform retires in 2019 and before the conversion of the Brimstone Missile launch system on the Typhoon aircraft in 2021.

Mr Philip Dunne: Work is in hand to ensure the successful integration of Brimstone on to Typhoon aircraft.

EU Common Foreign and Security Policy

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what UK (a) military and (b) other personnel (i) have been and (ii) are deployed under Common Foreign and Security Policy or Common Security and Defence Policy operations since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what operations UK forces have served alongside the forces of other European counties in the last five years; and which countries participated in each operation.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what operations have involved the deployment of UK armed forces personnel since 2010.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Military Aid

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much of his Department's budget was classified as official development assistance in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2013-14.

Mr Mark Francois: This information is not held in the format requested but is available in calendar year as follows. 2010 data is not available as the Official Development Assistance (ODA) reporting requirement was introduced at the Strategic Defence and Security Review in 2010.  YearODA Spend2011£6.9 million2012£5.0 million2013£3.0 million Data for 2014 will be published in autumn 2015.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits: Foreign Nationals

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of paying in-work benefits to non-UK citizens from (a) other EU countries and (b) the rest of the world in each of the last five years.

Esther McVey: Holding answer received on 27 October 2014



While the Government checks the immigration status of benefit claimants to ensure the benefit is paid properly and to prevent fraud, traditionally that information has not been collected as part of the payment administrative systems. However, the Government is looking at ways to reform the current administrative system under Universal Credit so that it will systematically record nationality and immigration status of migrants who make a claim. The Government has made a radical series of changes over the last year to restrict the access by non-UK citizens from the European Economic Area to UK benefits and tax credits. This is in order to protect the UK’s benefit system and discourage people who have no established connection with the UK from moving here, unless they have a job or a genuine prospect of work, or have savings to support themselves until they do.

MAXIMUS Health and Human Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what investigations his Department undertook into the work of Maximus before the award of the work capability assessment contract.

Mr Mark Harper: We are confident in MAXIMUS’s ability to deliver this contract after a thorough evaluation process of their performance on major contracts.

Disability

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the additional costs incurred by people with disabilities in the UK for (a) extra transport and (b) general living costs.

Mr Mark Harper: No recent estimate has been made of the additional costs incurred by people with disabilities. Previous research has demonstrated that developing a robust estimate of the extra costs of disability is not straightforward. There are a number of proposed methods for estimating extra costs, which produce different results dependant on a range of factors, including the severity and type of impairment, income and geographic location.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been spent on (a) Employment Support Allowance (ESA) Work Force tribunals since 2010, (b) incapacity benefit appeals between 2006 and 2008 and (c) ESA Work Force appeals between 2008 and 2010.

Mr Mark Harper: (a) The information is not available.  (b) In the Financial Year 06-07 and 07-08 we had a single Processing Appeals activity which was apportioned across the Benefit Processing Outputs. I have supplied the amount assigned to Incapacity Benefit Claims in the table below.  JCP ABM 06-07 YTD Mar 0706-07 YTDProcess Appeals ActivityIncapacity Benefit Claims£ 10,199,240.42 JCP ABM 07-08 YTD Mar 0807-08 YTDProcess Appeals ActivityIncapacity Benefit Claims£ 11,562,650.08 Data supplied is in financial years April - March (c) The information requested is not available.

Universal Credit: Dundee

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of people in Dundee East constituency that will be in receipt of universal credit after its implementation.

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of people in Perth and North Perthshire constituency who will be in receipt of universal credit after its implementation.

Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of people in Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency who will be in receipt of universal credit after its implementation.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of people in Moray constituency who will be in receipt of universal credit after its implementation.

Dr Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of people in Banff and Buchan constituency who will be in receipt of universal credit after its implementation.

Mr Mark Harper: The department published planning projections of the Universal Credit caseload on Page 30 in the publication 'Universal Credit at Work' published on 22 October 2014. The publication can be found at the below link.   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-at-work'   The Department is not setting targets for numbers in receipt of Universal Credit at various points in time. Caseload projections are not available at the constituency level.

Disability Living Allowance: Dundee

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of higher rate disability living allowance there are in Dundee East constituency.

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of higher rate disability living allowance there are in Perth and North Perthshire constituency.

Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of higher rate disability living allowance there are in Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of higher rate disability living allowance there are in Moray constituency.

Dr Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of higher rate disability living allowance there are in Banff and Buchan constituency.

Mr Mark Harper: Disability Living Allowance is made up of two components. Care, which is paid at one of three rates, and mobility, which is paid at one of two rates. An individual can receive either, or both of these components. Such information on Disability Living Allowance rates is available, at parliamentary constituency level, is published and available using the Department’s Tabtool. http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html

Universal Credit

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to publish a long-term plan for the full-implementation of universal credit.

Mr Mark Harper: An update on Universal Credit progress and future planning was provided recently in the Department’s “Universal Credit at Work” publication available on the DWP website https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-at-work   In the WMS (Link below) of 13 October 2014 the Secretary Of State confirmed plans for the next stage of implementing Universal Credit to all remaining Jobcentres and Local Authorities as we progress national expansion through 2015-16 and secure delivery of Universal Credit across Great Britain.   http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-vote-office/2014-October/13th%20October/17.DWP-welfare-reform.pdf   We will keep all longer-term plans under review as we progress Universal Credit based on our Test and Learn approach, securing long-term transformation of the Welfare State and UK labour market in a safe and secure way.

Children: Maintenance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many calls the Child Maintenance Options Service has received in each month from May 2014 to date.

Steve Webb: The number of calls received by the Child Maintenance Options Service in each month from May 2014 is available in the table below.  MonthNumber of CallsMay-1427,605Jun-1429,290Jul-1429,810Aug-1427,000 Notes:- Data Sourced from CMO Monthly MI Service Pack- Data rounded to nearest 5

Cold Weather Payments: Scotland

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times cold weather payments have been made to residents of the KY13 postcode area in each of the last five years.

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times cold weather payments have been made to residents of the FK10 postcode area in each of the last five years.

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times cold weather payments have been made to residents of the FK11 postcode area in each of the last five years.

Steve Webb: The Cold Weather Payment scheme is administered at weather station level rather than any other standard GB geography such as postcode level. The coverage area for each weather station is determined by the Met Office which assesses the most appropriate weather station for each postcode area, which may change between years. Cold weather payments are triggered when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be 0oC or below over seven consecutive days. The postcode areas of FK10, FK11 and KY13 have been assigned to the Edinburgh Gogarbank and Strathallan weather stations as follows: FK10: assigned to the Edinburgh Gogerbank weather stationFK11: assigned to the Strathallan weather stationKY13: assigned to the Edinburgh Gogerbank weather station in the years 2009/10 to 2012/13 and to the Strathallan weather station in 2013/14. Table 1 gives the number of triggers for the last five years at these weather stations. All eligible recipients will have received a Cold Weather Payment following a trigger at the relevant weather station. Table 1: Triggers and Payments at Edinburgh Gogarbank and Strathallan weather stations: 2009/10 to 2013/14. Weather Station Number of triggers in each year2009/102010/112011/122012/132013/14Edinburgh GogerbankNumber of triggers54010Strathallan Number of triggers66120

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many sanctions have been issued by jobcentres to people (a) working in part-time employment and (b) employed on zero hours contracts in each year for which figures are available.

Esther McVey: The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost for point (a), regarding working in part-time employment and for point (b), claimants of JSA cannot be sanctioned in relation to a zero hours contract and therefore none of those sanctioned would be due to a zero hours contract.

Personal Independence Payment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claims for personal independence payment his Department expects to receive in the present financial year and the next; and what estimate he has made of the number of decisions on claims in that period.

Mr Mark Harper: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure effective joint working between his Department and relevant partners before introducing universal credit in new areas.

Mr Mark Harper: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what IT system will underpin the full national roll-out of universal credit.

Mr Mark Harper: We will expand Universal Credit from February 2015 using the current live service. We will keep all longer-term plans under review as we progress Universal Credit based on our test and learn approach, securing long-term transformation of the welfare state and UK labour market in a safe and secure way.

Universal Credit

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether local authorities and voluntary sector partners will receive the level of additional funding and support from his Department for the introduction of universal credit that was available to pathfinders.

Mr Mark Harper: The expansion of Universal Credit during 2015 will allow us to build a secure platform for the introduction of Universal Support by mobilising local partnership agreements. To ensure the right integrated local foundations are established for expansion the Department will put in place Delivery Partnership Agreements (DPA) to make available funded support for those who need extra help.

Welfare Assistance Schemes: Harrow

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much funding was allocated to Harrow Council in 2014-15 to be spent on local welfare assistance schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: The funding for Harrow Council is shown in the table below. This information can be found on page 35 of the “Local welfare provision review”, published on 5th November 2014, which is available in the House Library, as well as on the Gov.uk website. Local welfare provision review - Publications - GOV.UK  2014/15Local AuthorityProgramme Funding (AME)Admin Funding (DEL)TotalsHarrow404,97778,438483,415

Personal Independence Payment

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many mandatory reconsiderations for personal independence payments have been (a) requested and (b) completed in respect of (i) Parkinson's disease, (ii) multiple sclerosis and (iii) rheumatoid arthritis; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length of time taken is for decisions to be made on  mandatory reconsiderations for personal independence payments; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many mandatory reconsiderations for personal independence payments have been (a) requested and (b) completed since April 2013; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Harper: The information requested is not currently available. The Department is working to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we are able to publish statistics that meet high quality standards at the earliest opportunity. We intend to publish official statistics on mandatory reconsideration relating to Personal Independence Payment when they are ready. The release of information will be pre-announced in line with United Kingdom Statistics Authority release protocols.

Personal Independence Payment: Wales

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal independence payment applications in Wales have waited longer than (a) one month, (b) three months and (c) six months to be assessed by Capita; what progress has been made in reducing such waiting times in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Harper: Information on the number of cases awaiting individual assessments is not routinely supplied and is not published data. Departmental statisticians are continuing to develop measures around clearance times and waiting times to ensure they provide a rounded and representative picture of Personal Independence Payment system performance, improvement activity and the claimants’ experience. These statistics will be published when they are ready, with the release pre-announced in line with United Kingdom Statistics Authority release protocols.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2014 to Question 213752, stating that plans for national roll-out of universal credit to all jobcentres and local authorities from February 2015 have been accelerated so that the bulk of the migration will be complete by 2019, and by what date the bulk of the migration was due to have been completed prior to that acceleration.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2014 to Question 213752, stating that plans for national roll-out of universal credit to all jobcentres and local authorities from February 2015 have been accelerated so that the bulk of the migration will be complete by 2019, whether he is now confident that all migration will be complete by 2020.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2014 to Question 213752, stating that plans for national roll-out of universal credit to all jobcentres and local authorities from February 2015 have been accelerated so that the bulk of the migration will be complete by 2019, in what respects that represents an acceleration compared to his previous plan.

Mr Mark Harper: In the WMS (link below) of 13 October 2014 the Secretary of State confirmed plans for the next stage of implementing universal credit to all remaining jobcentres and local authorities as we progress national expansion through 2015-16 and secure delivery of universal credit across Great Britain.   http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-vote-office/2014-October/13th%20October/17.DWP-welfare-reform.pdf Universal Credit is being implemented in a safe and secure manner using a test and learn approach and it is taking this approach that has allowed our plans to expand national roll out. We will keep all longer-term plans under review as we progress, securing long-term transformation of the welfare state and UK labour market in a safe and secure way.   Should there be no change in the labour market outlook or the pace at which claims are migrated, the current business case assumes for planning purposes the bulk of this exercise will be complete by 2019.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills about links between Work Programme providers and recruitment agencies.

Esther McVey: The Department has not discussed the links between Work Programme providers and recruitment agencies with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Work Programme providers have the freedom to develop innovative approaches to support those with significant and multiple barriers to work to help them find work and keep them in sustained employment. This could include where appropriate the participant using employment agencies.

Post Office Card Account

Mr Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's plans are for paying pensions and benefits nto Post Office card accounts after April 2015.

Steve Webb: Discussions continue between Her Majesty’s Government and Post Office LTD to consider the needs of our customers beyond April 2015, announcements will be made when these discussions reach a conclusion.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Disqualification

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many of the recommendations in the independent review of jobseeker's allowance sanctions for claimants failing to take part in back-to-work schemes (a) have been implemented in full, (b) are being progressed and (c) have not yet been actioned.

Esther McVey: We have already published our response to the Oakley Report and a copy can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/332137/jsa-sanctions-independent-review-government-response.pdf   We have accepted all recommendations made by the Oakley Report and we have already implemented a number of improvements. Our response sets out a number of target completion dates for recommendations made by the Oakley Report.   We will look at the remaining recommendations and will keep the House informed on progress and implementation.

Atos Healthcare

Dr Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2014 to Question 213576, how many cases are still being dealt by Atos; and what assessment he has made of the effect this will have on waiting times.

Mr Mark Harper: As at 30 September 2014 there were around 580,000 cases awaiting Work Capability Assessments at Atos Healthcare (down by 25% since February). These figures do not include cases where the claimant has yet to return the claimant questionnaire.From 1 March, MAXIMUS Health and Human Services Ltd. will take over delivery, initially using elements of the Atos infrastructure in order to ensure a smooth and gradual transition between providers. The priority for MAXIMUS will be to deliver the best service possible for claimants, increase the volume of assessments carried out and reduce waiting times.We are committed to reducing waiting times which is why this Government has awarded the new contract to Maximus.

Work Capability Assessment

Dr Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will take steps to ensure that Atos and its successor provide claimants with an immediate refund on the costs incurred when travelling to that assessment.

Mr Mark Harper: Atos Healthcare will refund claimants’ travel expenses within 14 working days of the assessment taking place. There is no process in place to make an immediate refund. MAXIMUS Health and Human Services Ltd have also committed to paying all travel expenses within the same time limits. This agreement will take effect from 1 March 2015.

Work Capability Assessment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how long on average people wait for work capability assessments; and which government regions are experiencing the longest waiting times.

Mr Mark Harper: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Work Capability Assessment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has lifted the deferral imposed in January 2014 of reassessments for employment and support allowance claimants following the appointment of a new work capability assessment provider.

Mr Mark Harper: The Department has temporarily deferred routine repeat assessments for those already in the Work-Related Activity Group or the Support Group of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), in order to focus on new claims.Assessments are continuing for new ESA claimants and all those already referred to Atos. Repeat assessments will also continue for people who report a change in their circumstances. The Department has agreed a contract with a new provider, Maximus, to deliver the new assessment service from March 2015. We are working with Maximus to increase the number of assessments and resume repeat assessments once they have the capacity to do so.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Birds of Prey

Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the Uplands Stakeholder Forum hen harrier sub-group draft joint action plan.

George Eustice: Defra officials are currently working with Sub-Group members to finalise the Joint Action Plan with a view to publishing it as soon as possible.

Food: Imports

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to increase the number of ports with facilities for the inspection of imported food; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: It is for port operators to decide if they wish to provide border inspection facilities to facilitate the importation of regulated food products. Defra’s responsibility, with regard to imports of animal products, is to work with Port Health Authorities and the Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission to ensure that such facilities meet EU standards. The Food Standards Agency fulfils a similar role for the approval of Designated Points of Entry for food of non-animal origin.I recognise the importance of having an adequate network of inspection facilities. I would welcome representations from interested parties, if it is believed there is a problem with the current provision of such facilities.

Milk: Prices

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the devolved administration on milk prices paid to farmers.

George Eustice: The Secretary of State chairs regular meetings with the Devolved Administrations on issues of mutual interest. The Secretary of State discussed dairy-related issues with Northern Irish MPs and MEPs earlier this week.Defra officials also maintain regular contact with their counterparts in the Devolved Administrations on a range of dairy issues.

Floods: Insurance

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2014 to Question 213979, what steps she has taken to gather evidence to inform her Department's monitoring of the insurance market; and whether there will be an opportunity for (a) hon. Members, (b) small businesses and (c) members of the public to inform her Department's work in this area.

Dan Rogerson: Evidence on the availability of flood insurance has been provided and considered by Defra at various stages, including during the passage of the Water Act 2014 through Parliament and following the Downing Street Floods summit on 18 February.I met representatives of small businesses in June to listen to their concerns and to provide an outline of our plans for market monitoring. Findings of the Defra research contract will be published next year. I intend to have another meeting when this work is completed.

Public Footpaths: Coastal Areas

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department will complete the coastal footpath project by the target year of 2020; what the cost to date of that project is; and from which budgets funds have been allocated for the completion of the path.

Dan Rogerson: We are committed to completing the coastal path around England by 2020. As announced by the Deputy Prime Minister, extra funding will be made available and we are discussing this with HM Treasury.To date, Natural England has incurred establishment costs of £137,238 on the three stretches of the coast where the right of access under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 has been implemented. Natural England has estimated further establishment costs of £851,730 on the six stretches where it has submitted coastal access reports to the Secretary of State, but where the right of access has not yet been implemented.Natural England's staff costs for delivering costs coastal access are included within its overall staff budget. Natural Englad is also incurring additional costs for publishing and advertising coastal access reports, and for agreements which it has entered with access authorities to provide it with a range of access advice and to carry out preliminary work in relation to the coastal path.The Department has spent £85,590 in meeting the costs incurred by the Planning Inspectorate in determining a number of objections which have been made to proposals in Natural England's coastal acces reports.

Marine Conservation Zones

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she last met Ministers in the Scottish Government to discuss the plans of the UK and Scottish Governments for creating marine conservation zones.

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions (a) she and (b) officials in her Department have held (i) orally and (ii) in writing with the Scottish Government in the last six months on the creation of additional marine conservation zones.

George Eustice: Defra officials had contact with counterparts from the Scottish Government in early summer 2014 on the designation of Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (the Scottish equivalent of Marine Conservation Zones) which were announced in July. Ahead of this, I provided written agreement on behalf of the Secretary of State for 13 Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas in the Scottish offshore region in accordance with the requirements of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.Defra officials have frequently discussed issues relating to Marine Protected Areas with their counterparts in the Scottish Government. Written and oral discussions between officials will also occur in advance of future Marine Conservation Zone consultations and designations.The Secretary of State has not had meetings with Ministers in the Scottish Government on marine conservation zones.

Reptiles: Imports

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what species of reptiles have been imported to the UK from within the EU for the pet trade that were (a) wild-caught and (b) captive-bred in each year since 2010; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: The number of reptiles imported specifically for the pet trade or whether they were wild caught or captive bred is not available.   The number and species of reptiles imported to the UK from within the EU is as follows:  Rhyncocephalia(Lizards)Sauria(Lizards)Serpentes(Snakes)Testudinata (Turtles)Total20100916283131,257201105,47866411,77917,921201202,1951,2074,9748,376201342,0222891482,4632014 (to 18 Nov)018632,7772,966

Reptiles: Imports

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what species of reptiles have been imported to the UK from outside the EU for the pet trade from 2010 that were (a) wild-caught and (b) captive-bred in each year since 2010; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: The number of reptiles imported specifically for the pet trade is not available. Neither is information available on the type of reptiles imported from outside the EU or whether they were wild caught or captive bred.   The number of reptiles imported to the UK from outside the EU is as follows:   YearTotal 2010171,5312011151,7152012154,7682013129,5922014 (to 18 Nov)92,628

Mammals: Imports

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what species of mammals have been imported to the UK from within the EU for the pet trade that are (a) wild-caught and (b) captive-bred in each year since 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what species of mammals have been imported to the UK from outside the EU for the pet trade that were (a) wild-caught and (b) captive-bred in each year since 2010; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: This information is not available. Although the species of mammals is recorded on importation paperwork, the EU import rules do not require information to be collected on the purpose of importation or whether the imported animals were bred in captivity or caught from the wild.

Nature Conservation

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what monitoring of exotic species (a) for sale and (b) which are privately-kept her Department carries out; what additional monitoring her Department carries out in respect of species considered to be invasive; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: There is no monitoring of exotic species for sale or that are privately kept.   Addressing the risks posed by invasive non-native species is underpinned by the Great Britain Non-Native Species Strategy. This Strategy outlines key actions related to monitoring of these species in the wild to ensure that appropriate action can be taken to address any threats they pose.

Home Office

Middle East

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) British citizens, (b) British residents holding dual passports and (c) British residents holding foreign passports who left the UK in 2014 to fight for the (i) Israeli Defence Force in Gaza, (ii) Koma Komalên Kurdistan in Syria and Iraq and (iii) ISIS Islamic State in Syria and Iraq in 2014; and what his policy is in each such case.

James Brokenshire: We do not hold data on British nationals fighting with the Israeli Defence Force: many foreign nationals (including British nationals) serve in the IDF, and also hold dual (Israeli) nationality. We do not hold data on British nationals fighting with the Koma Komalên Kurdistan in Syria/Iraq. We believe that more than 500 individuals from the UK have travelled to Syria since the start of the conflict. It is estimated half of these have returned. We judge that a significant minority of UK extremists currently fighting in Syria are affiliated with ISIL. British citizens fighting with proscribed terrorist organisations would clearly pose a threat to the UK should they return. Such individuals are among our primary counter-terrorism concerns. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against travel to a particular place when we consider the risk to British nationals is unacceptably high. Anyone who does travel is putting themselves in considerable danger. The best way for the public to help is to donate to registered charities that have ongoing relief operations. Those who become involved in fighting abroad can potentially be prosecuted under UK law on their return including under terrorism or other offences. Fighting in a foreign conflict is not automatically an offence but will depend on the nature of the conflict and the individual's own activities. Any allegation of an offence will be a matter for investigation by the police. Whether an individual is arrested or prosecuted will always depend on the facts and circumstances of the case and is an operational decision for the police and Crown Prosecution Service. Safeguards are built in to our legislation and we rely on the police and Crown Prosecution Service to make sure that prosecutions are pursued in appropriate cases. Whether any specific act falls within the definition of terrorism and whether any individuals or groups have committed an offence will always depend on all facts and circumstances of the case. Prosecutions can only be sought where the Crown Prosecution Service is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence of any offence having been commissioned and that it is in the public interest to prosecute.

Immigration Controls: Ports

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of people attempting to enter the UK illegally who were intercepted at (a) Calais, (b) Zeebrugge and (c) Ostend in each of the last three years; and how much her Department has spent on measures to help prevent the entry of illegal immigrants to the UK through each such port in each of the last three years.

James Brokenshire: To ensure the integrity and security of the UK border Her Majesty’s Government does not provide port specific statistics. In 2013/14 the number of clandestine people detected at juxtaposed controls in France by Border Force and other agencies was around 18,000 – a rise of over 60 percent from around 11,000 in FY2012/13.Zeebrugge and Ostend in Belgium are not juxtaposed ports. Border Force officers assist Belgian Federal Police at Zeebrugge in freight searching at their invitation but there is no formal juxtaposed control treaty.The annual cost for Border Force at the port of Calais per fiscal year is:2011/12 - £14,792,0272012/13 - £15,825,5412013/14 - £17,548,829 Between 2012 and 2014 the UK has also provided an upgraded Passive Millimetric Wave Imager (PMMWI) for use by P&O ferries at Zeebrugge. This is one of five PMWWI machines in use in France and Zeebrugge which were upgraded in the last two years at a total cost of £2 million.

Missing Persons: Children

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations she has received in support of the creation of a national database to collate information on missing children to help identify those (a) at risk of child sexual exploitation and (b) being trafficked across police force boundaries; and if she will make a statement.

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a national database to collate information on missing children to help identify those (a) at risk of child sexual exploitation and (b) being trafficked across police force boundaries; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: The former Minister for Crime Prevention, Norman Baker, met the National Policing Lead for Missing Persons in February to discuss this matter. A further meeting will take place with Lynne Featherstone at the end of the month. There have been no other recent representations with regard to the creation of a national database to collate information on missing children. However, discussions are underway on how police data can be shared more easily between forces. The Home Office is working with the National Policing Lead for Missing Persons and the National Crime Agency to consider practicable options for a national register for missing persons data. Currently information on missing persons cases is held by police forces; we are looking at ways to improve how this information is accessed and shared.The UK Missing Persons Bureau, part of the National Crime Agency, and its partners are working with police forces and IT providers to improve consistency of recording and compliance with data collection requirements.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to answer Question 207355, tabled by the hon. Member for Newport West on 29 August 2014.

James Brokenshire: I answered PQ207355 tabled by the Rt. Hon Member on 20th November 2014, I apologise for the delay in providing a response.

Ashya King

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will investigate the circumstances of a European Arrest Warrant being issued for the parents of Ashya King.

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will investigate the request for the European Arrest Warrant  issued for the parents of Ashya King.

James Brokenshire: No Ministers or Home Office officials have any involvement in decisions about whether to issue Arrest Warrants, nor did they have any involvement in the decision to issue an Arrest Warrant for Ashya King’s parents. The decision to seek an Arrest Warrant is an operational matter for the Police and the prosecuting authorities, in this case the Crown Prosecution Service. Any decision about whether to issue a warrant is a matter for a judge. The Director of Public Prosecutions told the Home Affairs Committee in her evidence on this matter on 14 October 2014 that at the time, the Crown Prosecution Service "reviewed the case" and "upon further evidence, reviewed it again" which led to them contacting Spain to request that the Arrest Warrant be discharged, which it was.

Action Fraud

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of Action Fraud in referring reports of fraud and internet crime to the police.

Karen Bradley: Action Fraud is the national reporting point for fraud and financially-motivated cyber crime. It takes reports of crimes from members of the public and businesses online or via its dedicated helpline. These reports are then analysed by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), which looks for links between separate victims of the same scams, and matches information in Action Fraud reports with other data it holds. The NFIB then prepares intelligence packages and sends these to the police force best placed to consider enforcement action. It also carries out work to disrupt the enablers of this criminality, such as having websites used by criminals taken down.Both Action Fraud and the NFIB are part of the City of London Police, which is the national lead force for fraud. The Government brought Action Fraud into the City of London Police in April 2014 to strengthen the end-to-end process for reporting and analysis of reports of fraud. In 2013/14, there were 40,000 intelligence packages disseminated to police forces for enforcement action. We expect this number to increase this year and are working with the City of London Police, and their partners to deliver further improvements.We continue to work with the City of London Police to ensure as many crimes as possible are sent to police forces, and that victims of crime are kept up-to-date with the progress of their report.

Asylum: Syria

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the UK will send a delegation to attend the UNCHR conference on resettling Syrian refugees to be held in Geneva on 9 December 2014.

James Brokenshire: I am pleased to confirm that Karen Pierce, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, UK Mission to the UN and Other International Organisations, Geneva will represent the UK at the UNHCR Global Resettlement Pledging Conference on 9 December 2014.

101 Calls

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with Ministers in the Scottish Government on the contract for the operation of the 101 non-emergency number.

Mike Penning: There have been no discussions between the Secretary of State and Ministers from the Scottish Government on the contract for the operation of the 101 non-emergency number.

Travel Restrictions

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals on the UK sanctions list are not on the UK travel ban list.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Metals: Theft

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward proposals for the introduction of a legal requirement for verification of suppliers' identity, similar to that included in the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, for gold and jewellery.

Lynne Featherstone: We have no plans to introduce new regulations at this stage. Gold, unlike scrap metal such as lead, is sold through many different outlets including antique shops, jewellers, pawnbrokers and shops offering cash for goods. Any new regulation would potentially be both complex and expensive to implement and enforce. The crime prevention panel that we have set up in the Home Office is looking at new ways to prevent the theft of gold. This includes a review of an existing voluntary code of practice on the sale of gold that has been developed by police in collaboration with the National Pawnbrokers Association, the British Jewellers’ Association, the National Association of Goldsmiths and others. Shops signing up to this code of practice agree to follow a number of guidelines, including asking for proof of identity when gold is offered for sale and maintaining detailed records of goods purchased. We expect this work to be completed in early 2015.

Asylum: Afghanistan

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the Afghan asylum seekers found in a shipping container at Tilbury Docks in August 2014 have (a) been granted asylum, (b) been refused asylum but remain in the UK and (c) been refused asylum and removed from the UK.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Travel Restrictions: Malawi

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Malawi nationals are on the UK travel ban list.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Travel Restrictions

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any person on the UK sanctions list has travelled to the UK in the last 12 months.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Travel Restrictions: Ethiopia

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Ethiopian nationals are on the UK travel ban list.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Offences against Children: Databases

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2014 to Question 213787, on offences against children: databases, for what reasons the Childbase database was closed in 2011; and whether that database was closed before a replacement database had been established.

Mike Penning: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

EU Internal Security Fund

Dr Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to opt in to the EU Internal Security Fund for the period 2014 to 2020.

James Brokenshire: The EU Internal Security Fund was adopted on 16 April 2014 and comprises two EU Regulations. The Government chose not to opt in to the policing element when it was proposed but undertook to review that decision post adoption and is considering its position in advance of consulting Parliament. The UK cannot join the ‘borders and visas’ Regulation as it is a measure relating to that part of Schengen in which the UK does not participate.

Immigration Controls

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will review the case of Mr and Mrs Khanovych, application references Warsaw 208144 and 208145, to enable them to visit their daughter in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum: Syria

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the 100,000 further resettlement places for Syrian refugees that UNCHR estimates will be required in 2015-16 will be provided by the UK.

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many refugees from the Syrian conflict have so far been relocated to the UK under the resettlement programme.

James Brokenshire: The UK is not participating in the United Nations High Commission for Refugees’ (UNHCR) humanitarian admission programme; with over 3.2 million Syrian refugees now in Syria’s neighbouring countries, the Government believes that humanitarian aid and actively seeking to end the conflict are the most effective ways for the UK to support the majority of those displaced and their host countries, rather than large scale resettlement. The UK has committed £700 million in response to the crisis, making us the second largest bi-lateral donor after the USA, and UK funding is helping hundreds of thousands of refugees to access food, clean water, medical consultations and essential supplies.In addition to our aid programme, we operate the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme to provide sanctuary in the UK to some of the most vulnerable refugees who cannot be supported effectively in the region. The VPR scheme runs in parallel to the UNHCR programme as it is based on need rather than fulfilling a quota; however, we are working closely with UNHCR to identify the most vulnerable people displaced by the conflict. The number of arrivals under the scheme up to September 2014 will be published on 27 November. We continue to bring groups here on a regular basis, with the intent that several hundred people will be helped over three years.

Police: Pensions

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with (a) the Northern Ireland Assembly and (b) the Scottish Government regarding reinstatement of pension rights for police widows and widowers.

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to treat all police widows and widowers whose spouses have died in the line of duty in the same way as armed forces personnel with regard to pension rights.

Mike Penning: The police pension schemes in Scotland and Northern Ireland are a matter for the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly respectively.Government has a general presumption against making this type of change to pensions and we do not consider that there are other workforces that are generally comparable to the UK Armed Forces. However, Ministers must be able to exercise discretion where there are compelling and clear arguments.The special circumstances of our military personnel, including the level of risk that they face and the disruption to family life provide a unique set of circumstances, which are further bolstered by the Armed Forces Covenant. We believe these merit a move away, in the specific instance of the Armed Forces, from Government’s general presumption against making retrospective changes.

Entry Clearances

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many entry clearance visa applications were received in the last six months.

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many entry clearance visas were granted in the last six months.

James Brokenshire: The information requested is provided in the table below. Data is provided for the last two years to put the seasonal nature of this data into context.The latest Home Office immigration statistics, including those for entry clearance visas shown in the table above, are published in the release Immigration Statistics April – June 2014, which is available from the Library of the House and on the Department’s website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-statistics Immigration statistics for July - September 2014 will be published on 27 November. 



Entry clearance visa applications
(Excel SpreadSheet, 28.5 KB)

101 Calls

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the reasons were for the setting of the charge for calling the 101 non-emergency number at 15 pence.

Mike Penning: The public have always paid to contact the police for non-emergencies. Previous police non-emergency numbers (such as 0845 numbers) could cost up to 40 pence per minute. We believe the 15 pence per call charge to be a competitive and transparent rate.Police forces and the Government do not make money from calls to 101.The 15 pence per call charge goes directly to telephony providers and covers the cost of handling calls and routing calls to destinations.

HM Treasury

Lloyds Banking Group

Dr William McCrea: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Lloyds Bank since its announcement of 9,000 job losses.

Andrea Leadsom: Details of the Chancellors meetings are published in HMT transparency returns.   The Government’s shareholding in Lloyds is managed at arm’s length from HM Treasury by UK Financial Investments Ltd. In accordance with UKFI’s investment mandate, the Government does not seek to intervene in the operational management of Lloyds Banking Group.

Procurement

Austin Mitchell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many contracts signed by his Department with suppliers of services or consultants include a clause providing that if the contract is abrogated by the Government, the provider or consultant will be compensated for lost income since 2010.

Andrea Leadsom: Since January 2011, central Government Departments have been required to publish on Contracts Finder information on the tenders issued and contracts they award with a value over £10,000 www.gov.uk/contracts-finder In addition, Departments including HM Treasury routinely publish details of transactions over £25,000. Information relating to the number of contracts that include a clause providing that if the contract is abrogated by the Government, the provider or consultant will be compensated for lost income, is not held centrally.

Welfare Tax Credits

Sammy Wilson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been recovered from people who fraudulently claimed tax credits in each of the last five years.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) do not hold the information requested.

Welfare Tax Credits

Sammy Wilson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the value of tax credits which were claimed fraudulently in each of the last five years.

Mr David Gauke: The table below shows the central estimate of the levels of error and fraud in the tax credit system for each of the last five tax years.2008-092009-102010-112011-12 2012-13Central estimate of Error and Fraud as a percentage of finalised tax credits entitlement8.9%7.8%8.1%7.3%7.0%Central estimate of the total net Error & Fraud value (billion)£2,110£2,060£2,270£2,090  £2,010   The latest published statistics relating to tax credit error and fraud can be found in the attached link:  https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/316032/Random_Enquiry_2012-13_final.pdf

Welfare Tax Credits

Sammy Wilson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department (a) has taken and (b) is taking to make people who are eligible for tax credits aware of the opportunity to claim.

Mr David Gauke: GOV.UK provides the public with comprehensive guidance about tax credits, including a tax credits calculator that people can use to assess their own eligibility. Our tax credits helpline advisers also provide advice and guidance to people who call to enquire about their eligibility.   HMRC also works closely with voluntary and community sector organisations to ensure they have the right information available to help their customers understand potential eligibility for tax credits, and how to apply.   In addition to the channels above, HMRC runs an annual advertising campaign to promote the need for tax credits customers to renew their claims. The campaign uses a range of channels including national television, radio and digital marketing, and reaches a wide audience across the UK.

Welfare Tax Credits

Sammy Wilson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the value of tax credits which were not claimed in each of the last five years.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) do not hold the information requested.

Welfare Tax Credits

Sammy Wilson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have been employed in administering tax credits in each of the last five years.

Mr David Gauke: Resource is flexibly deployed between benefits and credits to meet customer demand. A specific figure for tax credits cannot be provided.

Credit Unions

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to encourage saving through credit unions as a means of preventing poverty and payday loans.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government is supportive of credit unions and has taken a number of steps to assist them, most recently including: Investing up to £38 million in an expansion project for credit unions, aimed at helping credit unions expand and grow sustainably Issuing a Call for Evidence on credit unions, to which the Government will respond shortly.Removing unnecessary restrictions on credit unions via the Legislative Reform Order that came into effect in January 2012.These measures will help increase the capability of the credit union sector allowing it to become a viable option for financial services provision for an even wider range of consumers.   The Government is concerned about consumer detriment in the payday market and believes the FCA’s new, more robust regulatory system will help to improve protections for consumers who still choose to use pay day lenders.

Correspondence

Simon Kirby: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how often his Department reviews its processes regarding the logging of emails, letters and other correspondence received; and if he will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: HM Treasury continually reviews its processes for logging emails, letters and other correspondence received.   We take correspondence very seriously and aim to respond to all correspondence requiring a reply within 15 working days of receipt.  Guidance on handling correspondence from Members of Parliament, Peers, MEPs and Members of devolved Administrations is available online at the following link - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/61196/guide-handling-gov-correspondence.pdf

Taxation: Developing Countries

Mark Durkan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the G20's 2013 St Petersburg Declaration, what plans he has for a spillover analysis of the effects of UK tax rules on developing countries.

Mr David Gauke: The St Petersburg Declaration refers to Action 11 of the G20-OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project, which is developing an economic analysis to determine the scale and impact of aggressive tax planning by multinationals, including on the spillover effects into other countries. The UK supports this work.

Network Rail

Mr Tom Harris: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any proportion of Network Rail's debt has been allocated to the Scottish Government as a result of the reclassification of Network Rail as a government body on 1 September 2014.

Danny Alexander: Public Sector Net Debt (PSND) is not currently geographically split and so only overall Public Sector Net Debt (PSND) has increased.

Income Tax: Moray

Angus Robertson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Moray constituency paid the top rate of income tax in each of the last five years.

Dr Eilidh Whiteford: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Banff and Buchan constituency paid the top rate of income tax in each of the last five years.

Stewart Hosie: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Dundee East constituency paid the top rate of income tax in each of the last five years.

Pete Wishart: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Perth and North Perthshire constituency paid the top rate of income tax in each of the last five years.

Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Na h-Eileanan an lar constituency paid the top rate of income tax in each of the last five years.

Mr David Gauke: i, ii, iii, iv and v. Statistics on the number of additional rate income tax payers liable to pay by government office regions, including Scotland, are published in HMRC’s income tax statistics, table 2.2: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/306856/Table_2.2.pdf   County and constituency level information on additional rate tax payers is not published.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Lilian Greenwood: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he intends to answer Question 213271, tabled on 4 November 2014; and what the reason was for the time taken in replying.

Danny Alexander: I have done so.

Small Businesses: Bank Services

Simon Danczuk: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the ease of opening bank accounts for small businesses.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government has put in place a range of measures to support small businesses, including making it easier for them to find a bank that meets their needs. For example, the Business Banking Insight survey will help the UK's SMEs understand their options, make decisions about who they should bank with, and plan how they will finance their growth. It provides detailed information on what the UK's SMEs think about every aspect of their bank, and includes a ranking of banks against key indicators. In addition, the British Bankers' Association website hosts a 'Business Account Finder'. This provides information on a range of financial services available to businesses, including current accounts. It presents a list of the most competitive current accounts available with separate sections for sole traders, limited companies, charities and other types of business.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Green Deal Scheme

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) Green Deal assessments, (b) Green Deal plans in unique properties and (c) measures installed using Green Deal finance in each month since January 2013 in (i) Scotland, (ii) England and (iii) Wales.

Amber Rudd: The Department reports the number of (a) Green Deal Assessments, (b) Green Deal Plans in unique properties and (c) measures installed using Green Deal finance by month in the following Official Statistics publication in Tables 2, 3 and 3a respectively:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/green-deal-and-energy-company-obligation-eco-monthly-statistics-october-2014DECC currently only publish cumulative totals to the end of each quarter for any geographic breakdown tables (i.e. for Scotland, England and Wales). My department reports the number of Green Deal Assessments, and 'live' Green Deal Plans (with measures installed) in unique properties by region, up to 30th June 2014 in Tables 1.6 and 1.7 respectively in the quarterly official statistics publication:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/green-deal-energy-company-obligation-eco-and-insulation-levels-in-great-britain-quarterly-report-to-june-2014Cumulative totals to previous totals are also available in previous quarterly publications.

Fuel Poverty

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Oral Answer of 6 November 2014, Official Report, column 959, on energy bills, what the evidential basis was for the statement that fuel poverty increased massively between 1997 and 2010.

Amber Rudd: The Official Report of 6 November 2014, (Official Report, Column 959) records my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State as saying that “fuel poverty increased massively under the previous Government.”As shown by National Statistics, fuel poverty, measured using the 10% indicator in use under the previous Government, affected 3.5 million households in England in 2010. This was lower than the peak of 4 million households affected in 2009, but still more than twice as many households as had been affected in 2005

Fuel Poverty

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Oral Answer of 6 November 2014, Official Report, column 959, on energy bills, what the evidential basis was for the statement that fuel poverty is falling.

Amber Rudd: The latest National Statistics on fuel poverty, published in June 2014, are for 2012. They show that between 2010 and 2012, fuel poverty fell by nearly 8%. The report is available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fuel-poverty-statistics 



Annual fuel poverty statistics 2014
(PDF Document, 1.93 MB)

Fuel Poverty

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Annual Energy Statement of 6 November 2014, Official Report, column 982, what the evidential basis was for the statement that fuel poverty in England has fallen by 100,000 since 2010.

Amber Rudd: The latest National Statistics on fuel poverty, published in June 2014, showed that, under the official Low Income High Costs indicator, fuel poverty affected 2.28 million households in England. In 2010, this figure stood at 2.47 million households. This is, in fact, a reduction of nearly 200,000 households.

Environment Protection

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the number of people employed in the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector in each year since 2005.

Amber Rudd: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Environment Protection

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of how many jobs there will be in the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector in each year from 2015 to 2030.

Amber Rudd: The Department of Energy and Climate Change does not have an overall estimate of jobs in the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector in each year from 2015 to 2030.However, the Department recently published a comprehensive assessment of investment and employment in UK energy sectors1, including an estimate that Electricity Market Reform will help support up to 250,000 jobs in low carbon electricity generation by 2020. [1] DECC (July 2014) Delivering UK Energy Investment: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/331071/DECC_Energy_Investment_Report.pdf

Energy Companies Obligation

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the number of measures installed under the Energy Companies Obligation by (a) measure and (b) obligation in (i) Scotland, (ii) England and (iii) Wales in each month since January 2013.

Amber Rudd: The Department is unable to provide a breakdown of measures installed under the Energy Companies Obligation by measure type by country by month. This would require additional resource to extract this data (beyond the time/cost limit for named day PQs) as this level of information is not currently published by DECC. DECC currently only publish cumulative totals to the end of each quarter for any geographic breakdown tables. Attached Table 1 shows the provisional number of ECO measures by ECO obligation by country by quarter, up to 30th June 2014.The provisional number of ECO measures by (b) obligation, in (i) Scotland, (ii) England and (iii) Wales is published in Table 1.11 of the quarterly official statistics:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/green-deal-energy-company-obligation-eco-and-insulation-levels-in-great-britain-quarterly-report-to-june-2014 



Prov no. ECO measures by ECO obligation by country
(Excel SpreadSheet, 9.51 KB)

Coke

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment his Department has made of the role, of coke in supplying the future energy needs of the UK.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Fracking

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what representations he has received from the Scottish Government on the provisions in the Infrastructure Bill [Lords] relating to decisions on an application for fracking.

Matthew Hancock: Petroleum extraction is a non-devolved matter. As such the proposals for oil and gas will apply across England, Wales and Scotland. The proposals on deep geothermal energy also cover England, Wales and Scotland (where in Scotland, deep geothermal energy is exploited for the sole, or main purpose of electricity generation). The Scottish Government was consulted on the development of the right to use deep-level land provisions. Extending the provisions to deep geothermal energy for the purposes of heat, is the subject of discussion with the Scottish Government.The planning regimes in England, Wales and Scotland will continue to operate unchanged. Companies seeking to exploit oil, gas or geothermal heat would still need to obtain planning permission from the Mineral Planning Authority, along with all other existing permissions, in order to develop a site.

Energy: Industry

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the number of people employed in the energy efficiency industry in each year since 2005.

Amber Rudd: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cabinet Office

Cancer

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the mortality rate was from cancer (a) across the UK and (b) in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Mortality Rate
(PDF Document, 103.27 KB)

Self-employed: Stafford

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people in Stafford constituency are registered self-employed.

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the net change in the number of private sector jobs in Stafford constituency was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Self-Employed
(PDF Document, 109.21 KB)

Census

Robert Jenrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will bring forward proposals to make public the 1921 Census records ahead of schedule to allow families to research their First World War family history.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Census Records
(PDF Document, 146.28 KB)

Asylum: Employment

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of successful claimants of refugee status are currently in employment.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Claimants of Refugee Status
(PDF Document, 107.38 KB)

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Mobile Phones

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on what grounds he decided that the consultation on tackling partial not-spots in mobile telephone coverage should last for three weeks.

Mr Edward Vaizey: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 17th November to the Hon. Member for Inverclyde.

Public Buildings: WiFi

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to his Department's press release of 30 October 2014, if he will place in the Library a list of the 1,000 public buildings that will become wifi hot spots.

Mr Edward Vaizey: As part of the announcement on 30 October 2014 we published a list of the public buildings that will, as a result of investment through the SuperConnected Cities Programme, have free high-speed and high-capacity Wi-Fi access for members of the public. Over 1,000 buildings have passed into contract phase. Please find the full list detailed here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ie=UTF&msa=0&mid=zwLLqmDnfnjA.kYSOB43DNGZ4

Film

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made on whether there is sufficient capacity to support the (a) filming and (b) post-production in the UK of all British (i) films and (ii) television dramas.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The UK is home to world class studios and production facilities such as Pinewood, Warner Brothers Leavesden and Elstree, as well as award-winning visual effects houses such as Framestore and Milk who are supporting British films and television dramas such as ‘Paddington’ and ‘24’. The Government has recently made changes to its Film Tax Relief (FTR) to provide further support to the film industry and attract inward investment productions to the UK. In 2013-14 alone, the Government paid £220 million in film tax reliefs which supported 327 films made in the UK.The Government is also investing up to £16m for skills and innovation in the creative content sectors to meet the demand from production attracted by the new tax reliefs and to maintain its reputation for producing world-class crew and award-winning talent.

Deputy Prime Minister

Voting Rights: British Nationals Abroad

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps the Government is taking in response to the European Commission's recommendation to extend overseas voting rights for UK citizens living in EU countries beyond 15 years.

Miss Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will extend the overseas voting rights to UK citizens living in EU countries to 25 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Government is keeping the current 15 year time limit for all UK citizens living overseas under consideration. There are no plans to change the law at the present time.

Electoral Register

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many additional people have registered to vote since the Electoral Commission launched its online campaign in June 2014.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Since 10 June, over 3.6 million people have applied to register to vote.

Department of Health

Breast Cancer

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) NHS England continues to routinely assess the quality and safety of local breast cancer multi-disciplinary teams and network groups as part of the National Cancer Peer Review programme and (b) this information is made available to patients through the My Cancer Treatment website.

Jane Ellison: NHS England is currently reviewing the National Cancer Peer Review Programme with a view to considering how its success might be extended into other new areas of specialised commissioning. Further details, including how the public can access information on the quality of clinical services, will be available following the completion of the review.

Hepatitis: Northern Ireland

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions officials in his Department have had with their counterparts in the Department of Health in Northern Ireland on hepatitis E contracted through donated blood.

Jane Ellison: The United Kingdom health departments have jointly asked the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) to review the evidence base and provide advice on potential hepatitis E transmission through blood, cells, tissues and organs. SaBTO’s review is expected to be completed by summer 2015.

Methadone

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policy on long-term methadone prescribing for opiate addicts of the findings of the Second Report of the Recovery Committee of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England, on behalf of the United Kingdom Government and the devolved administrations, has convened an expert group with responsibility for updating the UK guidelines for the Clinical Management of Drug Misuse and Dependence.   In updating the clinical guidelines the Expert Group will be looking at all the available evidence, including reports from the Recovery Committee of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Monitor

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to appoint a permanent chair of Monitor.

Norman Lamb: Baroness Hanham’s appointment as Chair continues until 31 March 2016. A further recruitment process will take place towards the end of 2015.

Clinical Trials

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were recruited to participate in a phase (a) I, (b) II, (c) III and (d) IV clinical trial in each of the last five years.

George Freeman: Data is not available on the total number of patients recruited to participate in a clinical trial. Recruitment in England to clinical trials hosted by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN), and total recruitment in England to all trials and other well-designed studies hosted by the CRN is shown in the following table.2009-102010-112011-122012-132013-14Phase I70851515,363931Phase I/II283305808185279Phase II3,8742,2682,9133,3063,234Phase II/III2,7292,5783,0412,5173,237Phase III31,36333,02733,81235,14028,595Phase IV11,07710,8768,6479,94423,780Total (trials)49,39649,13949,37256,45560,056All trials and studies454,138564,698595,540637,974604,216   Recruitment in England to clinical trials hosted by NIHR-designated infrastructure for experimental medicine including NIHR biomedical research centres, NIHR biomedical research units, and NIHR clinical research facilities for experimental medicine (from 2012-13 onwards), is shown in the following table.2009-102010-112011-122012-132013-14Phase 005301,2752551,046Phase I2,1852,1782,4712,8274,390Phase II5,4233,9233,1698,4677,893Phase III5,0035,2287,2768,930n/aPhase IV2,42523,5191,8433,135n/aTotal trials15,03735,37816,03423,614n/a

Vaccination

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2014 to Question 214322, what alternative vaccines are available that do not contain porcine gelatine for people who observe religions that restrict the consumption of pork products.

Jane Ellison: A number of vaccines contain porcine gelatine, which is used to stabilise live viral vaccines and is contained in many pharmaceutical products. The vaccines used in the national immunisation programme which contain porcine gelatine are Fluenz®, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) VaxPro® and Zostavax®.   Fluenz® is used to immunise children against flu. It is a live attenuated vaccine which is administered by means of a nasal spray. There is no equivalent appropriate alternative which offers the same degree of protection, nor is there any other live attenuated vaccine available in Europe.   MMR VaxPro® is used to immunise against MMR. There is an alternative vaccine, Priorix®, which does not contain porcine gelatine and offers equivalent protection.   Zostavax® is used to immunise adults against shingles. There is no alternative vaccine licensed for use in the United Kingdom.   Public Health England (PHE) has gained broad acceptance from faith groups for the use of porcine gelatine in non-oral medicines and more information can be found at PHE’s website:   www.gov.uk/government/news/vaccines-and-gelatine-phe-response

Ovarian Cancer: Northern Ireland

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Health Minister in Northern Ireland regarding the implementation of the most recent National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's guidelines for genetic testing for ovarian cancer.

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's most recent guidelines for genetic testing for ovarian cancer.

Jane Ellison: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s clinical guideline on familial breast cancer, published in June 2013, recommends that women with breast or ovarian cancer should be offered genetic testing if their combined BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carrier possibility is 10% or more.   NHS England is considering moving to a lower threshold as part of the annual prioritisation process for funding in 2015-16.   We intend to raise the matter of genetic testing for ovarian cancer patients with the Health Ministers of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in our next regular meeting with them.

Prostate Cancer

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, following the publication of the results of the ProtecT trial on localised prostate cancer diagnosis, what changes in diagnosis will be introduced for men aged between 50 and 69.

Jane Ellison: As the main aim of the ProtecT trial (Prostate testing for cancer and Treatment) is assessing mortality after 10 year follow-up, the full results of the trial are not expected to be known until 2017. Assessments on the impact of the results on changes to diagnosis will be made based on these results.

Radiotherapy

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2014 to Question 213582, if he will publish the names of those members who attended each of the two focus groups on behalf of the Radiotherapy Clinical Reference Group (CRG), the Adult Neurosurgery CRG, the Brain and Central Nervous System CRG, the Neurosciences CRG and the Stereotactic Radiosurgery CRG.

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2014 to Question 213360, which of the centres reviewed support the running of a seven-day service.

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2014 to Question 213582, what costs were identified by the Walton Centre NHS Trust for treating patients (a) surgically and (b) with stereotactic radiotherapy/stereotactic radiosurgery.

Jane Ellison: The proposal of a seven-day service is part of NHS England's consultation on the future configuration of services for stereotactic radiosurgery which closes on 26 January 2015. Providers are encouraged to input into the consultation process through:   http://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/survey/options-for-change   As a result of consultation feedback, NHS England will make the decision whether to procure a seven-day service. At this point providers can consider whether they wish to offer a service on this basis.   Attendees of the stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy focus group meeting who are members of the Clinical Reference Groups (CRG) were as follows:   21 March 2014 Bob Bradford – Adult Neurosurgery CRG Adrian Crellin – Radiotherapy CRG Peter Enevoldson – Neurosciences CRG Paul Grundy – Brain and CNS CRG Richard Grunewald – Neurosciences CRG Neil Kitchen – Stereotactic Radiosurgery CRG Catherine McBain – Brain and CNS CRG Paul May – Adult Neurosurgery CRG Matt Radatz – Stereotactic Radiosurgery CRG Nick Slevin – Radiotherapy CRG  23 May 2014 Adrian Crellin – Radiotherapy CRG Neil Kitchen – Stereotactic Radiosurgery CRG Paul May – Adult Neurosurgery CRG

Cancer: Drugs

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2014 to Question 213358, from which of NHS England's underspent budgets amounts were taken to meet the overspend of £30,539,000; and how much was so taken in each case.

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that the overspend on the Cancer Drugs Fund in 2013-14 was managed as part of its routine financial management process. The overspend represented less than 0.05% of NHS England’s total budget for that year.

Radiotherapy

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2014 to Question 213584, which clinical trials will run over (a) three and (b) five years; and what estimate he has made of the number of patients who will take part in each such trial.

Jane Ellison: NHS England advise that questions about the running of clinical trials should be directed to the trial sponsor. In the case of clinical trials for stereotactic ablative radiotherapy the sponsor is Cancer Research UK.   The current assessment of the number of patients that will be recruited to the trials is a provisional estimate and it is important to note that this will vary dependent on a number of factors, including local recruitment and randomisation to different trial arms.

Facsimile Transmission

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many fax machines there are in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs); and how many fax machines his Department and its NDPBs have purchased and at what cost since May 2010.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The numbers of fax machines in place in the Department and non-departmental public bodies together with figures for the numbers purchased and the costs since May 2010 are in the following table. OrganisationNumber of FAX machinesNumber purchased since May 2010Cost of those purchased since May 2010Department of Health 7 NilNilNHS EnglandNilNilNilCare Quality Commission101£149.00National Institute for Health and Care Excellence2NilNilHealth and Social Care Information Centre14NilNilHuman Fertilisation and Embryology AuthorityNilNilNilHuman Tissue Authority1NilNilMonitor11£264.00

Prescription Drugs

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether a licence for a treatment indication makes it more likely to be prescribed for that indication in (a) off-label and (b) unlicensed indication.

George Freeman: In making prescribing decisions, a clinician should first and foremost consider a patient’s individual clinical needs and choose the medicine best fitted to meet those needs, whether the medicine is licensed, off-label or unlicensed. Clinicians will also take a range of other information into account including advice from sources such as the British National Formulary, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and any local prescribing policies.   Guidance to clinicians from both the General Medical Council and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency sets out a clear hierarchy for the licensing status of medicines, which supports them in making these decisions. In treating their patients, clinicians should first consider using a licensed medicine within its licensed indication but if that will not meet their patient’s needs they can consider a licensed medicine outside its licensed indication and only if that is not suitable should they consider using a medicine that is not licensed. They must discuss the options with the patient and explain the reasons for their choice including the significance of the licensing status of the medicine.

Prescription Drugs

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what dates since July 2014 he has discussed with NHS England the use of off-patent drugs for new indications; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman: Departmental officials have had a number of discussions with NHS England which have included this issue, as well as discussions with other stakeholders. We are committed to supporting clinicians in incorporating the most up to date and robust evidence into patient care.

Tobacco: Australia

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effects of standardised packaging of tobacco in Australia.

Jane Ellison: The Government continues to carefully consider all issues relevant to the introduction of standardised packaging of tobacco products including any evidence from Australia. The Government has not yet made a final decision on whether to introduce standardised packaging of tobacco products.